



<*. 





-n^o^ 








•^0^ 















'< -^^0^ 




-? 
-i." t 



o > 





4 o 

* ^ O"^ o-a -^^ 0> <^ -^ 

>■ ^V r . -^ f <^ * o N ' ,'?,^ 




V 



V 








- . ^1 



^^-•^ 



^^0^ 









'^Z 




\>.^^ 











"hV 








O • A * I 





^oV" 








THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 




QUEEN ANNE 



THE MAJOR AND 
THE QUEEN 

OR, 

A Royal Grant to a Gallant Soldier 



Ldt MERSHON 




MEMBER OF 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY, WASHINGTON, D. C. ; NEW YORK HISTORICAL 

SOCIETY, NEW YORK CITY; CITY HISTORY CLUB, NEW YORK CITY; 

STATEN ISLAND ASSOCIATION OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, 

NEW BRIGHTON, S. I. ; STATEN ISLAND ANTIQUARIAN 

SOCIETY, DONGAN HILLS, STATEN ISLAND 



A STATEN ISLAND RECORD 
OF HISTORIC IMPORT 



NEW YORK 
R. R. BEAM & COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS BIBLE HOUSE 






COPYEIGHT, 1915, BY S. L. MeRSHON 



m 14 \m 



'CI.A3988i7 



©ueen ^nne 



"J^tr f)eart toats neber calleb in quesition. B>iit taast a ttattem of confusal af- 
fection anti fi&elitp, a ttnhtv motijer, a toarm frients, an intJulgent mis>tre£is(, 
a munificent patron, a milb anti merciful prince During tt)i)0£fe reign no 
Kufaject'jS faloob toasf gfteb for treason. 

'S>t)e toaa cerfainlp one of tfte best anb most unblemigfjcb giobcreignsi tftat 
eber £iat upon tiie ti)rone of Cnglanb anb toell besierbeb tije expresfgibe 
tijougt) Simple epitfjct of 'tfje (@oob (Queen lann.' " 

(^molUtt's f^ietOTV of Cnalanti. Vol. 3. j^sBt 311.) 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

A Tribute i 

Historic Places on Staten Island 2 

Four Foundation Stones 4 

Discovery, Fidelity and Reward 6 

Additional Facts Relating to Major Lancaster 

Symes 60 

Propositions of Law Relating to Crown Grants of 

Land 65 

The Publisher's Statement Regarding the Author, 

S. L. Mershon 72 

Biographical Record (Abridged) of Major Lancas- 
ter Symes in America 84 

Staten Island Literature 88 

Bibliography of Staten Island 90 

American Title and Trust Company's Relations to 

Staten Island 91 

Index of Contents 94 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

Portrait of Queen Anne Frontispiece 



^ 



Bird's-eye View of Greater New York, following " 

FACING PAGE 

Ambrose Channel Light 4^ 

Henry Van Dyck Shooting Indian Squaw .... 9^ 

Indians Surrendering Staten Island \2^ 

Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences ... 15 ^ 

Indians Migrating from Staten Island 16 v/ 

Staten Island Antiquarian Society 19 Z' 

Will of Major Lancaster Symes (an extract from) . 25 ^ 

Tablet on Inner Wall of St. Andrew's Church . . . 26 "^ 

St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Albany 29 i/' 

Captain Kidd, Major Symes and Slave 31 "^ 

Trinity Church, New York City 33 "^ 

St. Paul's Church, New York City 37^ 

St. Andrew's Church, Staten Island, New York City . 41 ^ 

Site of Old Fort Schuyler, Utica, N. Y 44 ^-^ 



V 



The Witch Catcher ci 

Posting Symes' Notice on St. Andrew's Church Door . 61 

The Dongan Mansion, New York City 63 

Portrait of Author, S. L. Mershon 72 

Dongan Tablet on St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, ^ 

New York City 84 

Old Billopp House, Staten Island 90 

Tablet on Outer Wall of St. Andrew's Church . . .94/ 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 



A TRIBUTE 

The author, assuming all personal responsibility for 
this historic sketch, dedicates the same to his fellow- 
officers, co-directors and all others associated with 
him in the duties and responsibilities connected with 
the American Title and Trust Company of Wilming- 
,ton, Delaware. 

During a long and varied experience the writer has 
at all times found that without an exception his co- 
workers in that Trust Company have been influenced 
by the highest ideals, have been moved by strict con- 
victions of duty and have always stood loyal to those 
principles that place fidelity to duty above gain and 
the rights of fellow men superior to corporate and 
individual greed. 

The author welcomes this opportunity of bearing 
testimony to their stern adherence to that company's 
motto, "Integrity of purpose. Fidelity to Trust and 
Equity in Practice." 

The author recognizes with sincere appreciation the 
excellent Research Work contributed hereto, by his 
daughter, Miss Adelaide H. Mershon. 

S. L. MERSHON. 
Montdair, N. J. 



HISTORIC PLACES 

ON 

STATEN ISLAND. 

Dotted all over Staten Island; along Its splendid 
highways, amidst its wooded hills and on its sea-swept 
shores, venerable historic land-marks, like sacred and 
holy places, make their deep appeal for love and rev- 
erence to the heart of every passing patriot. 

Alluring shrines there rest upon the shoulders of 
the mountains, are held upon the lap of snow-white 
sands or are embowered amidst the groves of the 
forests. 

Deep beaten paths made by the feet of true nature 
worshippers track their course to hallowed cloisters 
and wind their way where the embers of devotion 
kindle and glow. 

There the Past like a wraith, standing in the shad- 
ows, pours in upon our minds the strange and weird 
stories of Colonial and Indian history. The Present 
full of the abundance of beauty and life, like a Vestal 
Virgin keeping alive the sacred flame, casts all about 
her a bewitching spell. The Future like the holy 
charm of impending motherhood, and visioning the 
oncoming of laughing and happy childhood, conceal- 
ing herself behind golden horizons, veiled in advancing 
sunbeams or wrapped in wreaths of morning mists, 
beacons the man of vision. 

At the histrionic dawn between night and day those 
three Immortals wave their wands. Then Memory 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 3 

bows in reverence at the feet of the Past, Joy Hfts 
its song of praise over the beauties of the Present 
while Hope cries out for higher, holier and better 
achievements as it bounds forward into the beckon- 
ing arms of the Future. 

We wonder not therefore that under such magjietic 
influences, the splendid museum of the Staten Island 
Association of Arts and Sciences at New Brighton, 
the Staten Island Antiquarian Society, housed in its 
old Colonial headquarters, nestling among the Don- 
gan Hills, and the choir of dear old St. Andrew's 
Church in Richmond, haloed by its sacred reminis- 
cences and solemn environments, should unite in one 
Grand Oratorio of praise to the great Yesterday, 
To-day and Forever. 

A quiet, thoughtful outing on Staten Island amidst 
such surroundings and with the windows of the mind 
thrown wide open to the whispers of the music and 
story-laden breezes, should mark an epoch in the 
life of the Soul. 



FOUR FOUNDATION STONES. 

The resplendent discovery of a newly found hemi- 
sphere crowned Columbus with immortal glory. 

To John Cabot belongs the lesser but glorious rec- 
ord of discovering the continent of North America, 
while sailing under the English flag and when bearing 
a royal commission from the English King. He was 
authorized and directed to take possession in the name 
of the British Sovereign, of all continents and islands 
which might be discovered by him. 

John Cabot, the navigator, laid the first of four 
great corner stones to English and present-day titles 
to lands on Staten Island which now composes the 
Borough of Richmond in the City of New York. 

We quote them in their order of sequence. First, 
the Right of Political Sovereignty by virtue of orig- 
inal British discovery. Second, the Right of control 
through conquest by the force of British Arms. 
Third, the Right of Ownership because of direct pur- 
chase of the entire Island from the true owners of 
the soil, the American Indians. Fourth, the Right of 
Peaceable Possession conceded to the English Crown 
by International treaties and the actual and formal 
surrender of the lands to the British Sovereign by the 
native Indian Owners on the first day of May, six- 
teen hundred and seventy-one. 

On this fourfold foundation rests the impregnable 
fortress of the true ownership of every acre of land 
on Staten Island. Out from beneath it flows the 




Ambrose Channel Light. 
He who brings truth to light serves best his fellow man. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 5 

centuries-old stream of lawful conveyances, which 
can now be clearly traced in every instance back to 
the one true, great fountain-spring, ownership-in-fee 
by the English Crown. 

This heretofore "River of Doubt" has now been 
completely explored and its meanderings disclosed and 
duly recorded. Its channels have been traced and 
mapped so that in place of being "The Borough of 
Confusion as to Land Titles" it now is shown to have 
the clearest, most uniform and best defined basis of 
titles of all of the Boroughs in Greater New York. 

This important discovery of a complete and perfect 
basis of titles to lands on Staten Island has been made 
after a very large expenditure of money accompanied 
by a vast amount of research. Its record thrills while 
the facts are historic landmarks. 



DISCOVERY, FIDELITY AND REWARD. 

John Cabot and his son Sebastian Cabot, making 
several voyages of discovery, sailed the Atlantic coast 
from Labrador to Florida and planted the Cross of 
St. George at prominent intervening points on the 
Mainland of North America, they claiming the con- 
tinent for the English Crown. The territory of which 
Staten Island forms a part, by virtue of the discov- 
eries made by these English Navigators, was declared 
to be under British sovereignty. 

On September the third, sixteen hundred and nine, 
Henry Hudson, the discoverer of the Hudson River, 
entered the lower New York Bay and on the follow- 
ing day (September fourth) he entered the harbor of 
what is now New York and dropped anchor not far 
from the shores of Staten Island. The native Indians 
swarmed out in their canoes to meet him. They were 
fantastically arrayed in furs and feathers and were 
ready and eager for traffic with these pale faced 
strangers who had floated in between the white wings 
of what they thought to be "A Great Bird of the 
Sea." The natives offered maize and tobacco in ex- 
change for the white man's usual trinkets carried by 
him for the purpose of barter with the savages. 

Hudson, true to his instinct as a discoverer and ex- 
plorer, immediately sent a small boat manned by five 
sailors, through the Narrows, to explore the country 
beyond. This boat coasted along the shores of Staten 
Island, proceeding as far as Newark Bay. On its re- 

6 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 7 

turn and for some reason unreported the sailors were 
attacked by what, up to that time, had been friendly- 
Indians. The latter were manning two large canoes 
and John Coleman, an old and popular seaman, was 
killed by an arrow, shot through his neck. The dead 
sailor was buried by his comrades at Sandy Hook, on 
what has since been known as Coleman's Point. 

Following this discovery by Hudson, colonization 
by the Dutch commenced under the Patroon system 
of government. Two or three "Patrooneries" were 
undertaken on Staten Island by the Hollanders but 
the same were from time to time scattered by attacks 
made upon them by the Raritan Indians. 

Near, if not at, what is now the site of the village 
of Arrochar Park, was selected the site of Oude Dorp 
(Old Town). It was the first settlement made by Eu- 
ropeans on Staten Island. Authorities are uncertain 
as to its exact location. History states that seven 
Dutch cottages were there erected by settlers. These 
houses were constructed by the use of stones found 
on the shores, timber hewn in the virgin forests and 
mortar made of lime from the shells found in the ever 
present shell heaps then and until recently prevailing 
in abundance about the sites of the Indian villages. 

The new-comers, while engaged in fur trading with 
the natives, settled down to a peaceful farming life. 
They were, however, fixed in the conviction that the 
Indians had few if any rights which the Dutch were 
bound to respect. 

With the white man there always went the inev- 
itable fire water to curse the Indians and to drench the 
early settlements in blood. 

Governor Kieft established a distillery on the 
Island as a very early industry and to it swarmed the 



8 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

Indians who were there initiated in the use of whiskey 
and from thence went forth the spirit of intoxication 
among these wild children of nature. 

Many of the Indians, some of them much of the 
time under the influence of liquor furnished to them 
by the white men, were constantly imposed upon by 
the settlers. In response to such injustice they retal- 
iated upon the innocent and guilty settlers alike. 

Tribal relations were supreme and under the Indian 
code of ethics a wrong done to an individual Indian 
was a greater wrong against the tribe of which that 
Indian was a member and an injury done to a native 
by a settler marked a laxity of government for which 
that settler's entire colony should be held responsible. 

Before the first year of colonization had passed five 
tribes had banded together against the new-comers 
because of the overbearing and unjust acts of the set- 
tlers, of which the true owners of the soil were 
victims. These now hostile Indians descended upon 
the peaceful village of Oude Dorp and burned the 
hamlet to the ground, massacring nearly the entire 
population. The few who escaped fled to a block 
house near to the site of the present Fort Wadsworth 
and from there they crossed the Narrows to Long 
Island. 

A second time the town was built only to be agam 
destroyed by an attack made upon it by eleven tribes 
of Indians banded together. 

De Vries, the then Dutch Patroon of Staten Island, 
succeeded in making peace with the Indians and the 
farm houses were rebuilt in sixteen hundred and 
forty- four. 

The following year, Henry Van Dyck discovered 
an Indian squaw quietly picking a few peaches in his 




Henry Van Dyck Shooting the Indian Squaw for Picking a Few Peaches 
FROM His Orchard. 

This cruel act resulted in the inauguration of the "Peach War." 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 9 

garden, whereupon he shot her dead and what is known 
in local history as the "Peach War" was inaugurated. 

To avenge the cruel murder of the squaw the na- 
tive tribes again took to the war path. Sixty- four 
canoes loaded with warriors landed on the shores of 
Staten Island and about two thousand savages moved 
up against Oude Dorp. The village was completely 
wiped off of the face of the land and the blood of the 
settlers saturated the same soil which had been 
stained by the life blood of the poor Indian squaw. 
The village was annihilated. It has been said that not 
an identification stone now distinctly marks the place 
where the hamlet once stood. 

De Vries, the early Dutch navigator, in the year 
sixteen hundred and eight had claimed the Island as 
a Patroon by patent from the "West India Company" 
which he said was the "Proprietor" of New Nether- 
lands. He called the Indians "Non-a-tans" and the 
place itself as "Mononchong" or "Bad-Woods." He 
wrote that in sixteen hundred and thirty-eight, he an- 
chored before Staten Island, "my property and put 
my people on shore." Also that "On January the fifth 
I sent my people to Staten Island to commence the 
colony and buildings." He further records that in 
September sixteen hundred and forty-one, "My peo- 
ple were murdered by the Indians of the Raritans and 
so my colony was smothered in its birth." 

Holland understood that its fiat, granting a charter 
to the West India Company, authorizing it to take the 
Indians' land was only effective in proportion to the 
military and naval power that sustained it. That 
Company's title rested upon military power and seiz- 
ure by force of arms. One historian records that "the 
States General of Holland insisted that the West In- 



lo THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

dia Company should purchase the lands of the actual 
Indian owners and pay them for the same," if it ex- 
pected to hold and peacefully enjoy the possession of 
the lands. 

History further states that De Vries "not being 
able to keep his contract with the West India Com- 
pany for the establishment of a colony at his own 
expense all of his manorial rights reverted to the gov- 
ernment." 

In sixteen hundred and sixty-four, the English gov- 
ernment asserted its right to all territory on the At- 
lantic Coast of North America between thirty de- 
grees North latitude and fifty-eight degrees North 
latitude, which claim included Staten Island. The 
English claim was based upon the original discoveries 
made by John and Sebastian Cabot when represent- 
ing the English government. The Cabots claimed 
possession in advance of any discovery made by the 
Dutch. King Charles the Second of England, by vir- 
tue of this claim made a grant of land to his brother 
James, Duke of York, who subsequently became 
James the Second, King of England. The Duke, 
backed by a powerful English fleet, asserted his claim 
under the Royal Grant and in sixteen hundred and 
sixty-four, the New Netherlands were transferred to 
the British Crown and became the province of New 
York. 

Staten Island was the first territory seized by the 
English fleet when enforcing the claim of the English 
government. Immediately following the establish- 
ment of an English government in the province, the 
English Crown purchased Staten Island from the In- 
dians, who were the original and true owners of its 
lands, and the Island became the property in fee of 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN ii 

the English Crown. This was in the year sixteen 
hundred and seventy. 

The original deed made by the Indians conveying 
their Staten Island lands to the English Crown has 
been preserved and is now in a complete and perfect 
condition. After it had experienced remarkable vicis- 
situdes it finally found its way to New York City. 
The said deed commences with the following recita- 
tion. 

"This Indenture, made on ye thirteenth day 
of April in ye twenty-secondth year of the raigne 
of our sovereign Lord Charles the Second, by 
the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France 
and Ireland, Kinge, Defender of the Faith & in 
the year of our horde God, sixteen hundred and 
seventy, between the Right Honourable Francis 
Lovelace, Governor General under his Royall 
Highness James Duke of York and Albany of 
all of his said Territoryes in America for & on 
ye behalf of his said Royall Highness on the one 
part and Aguepo, Warrines, Minqua-Sachemack, 
Pemantoes, Quewaqueen, Wewanecameck & Ma- 
taris on behalf of themselves as the true Sachems, 
owners and lawful Indian proprietors of Staten 
Island and of all other Indians any way con- 
cerned therein on the other part" — and the In- 
dian deed further recites that the said Indians 
convey, "all that Island lyeing and being in Hud- 
son's Ryver comonly called Staten Island and 
by the Indians, Aquchonga Mana-cknong." The 
Indian Grantors further declared themselves to 
be "the very true sole and lawfull Indian owners 
of ye said Island & all & singular ye p'mises as 
being derived to them by their anncesters." 



12 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

By the said deed the Indians were permitted to re- 
main on Staten Island until the first day of May of 
the following year when they were required to sur- 
render the Island to such persons as the English Gov- 
ernment should be pleased to appoint. 

Thus May the first became the first general moving 
day established in the State of New York and the 
original Indian population left the shores of Staten 
Island in the year sixteen hundred and seventy-one 
having conveyed to the English Crown a perfect and 
complete title to all of the lands and waters in, on 
and about Staten Island. 

A very imposing ceremony accompanied the execu- 
tion and the delivery of the above mentioned deed to 
the representatives of the English Crown. 

In order that the Indians might thoroughly under- 
stand that they were parting with their lands and 
their hunting grounds on Staten Island and that they 
were turning the same over for ever to the English 
sovereign, the Indians had been directed to bring and 
on this occasion brought samples of the soil from all 
parts of the Island together with branches of the trees 
from the various forests and delivered the same to 
the representatives of the English Crown. This cere- 
mony constituted a final and complete token of the 
passage from one race to the other and from the na- 
tive Indians to the English Crown of all rights in 
and to the lands the Indians had previously owned. 

One historian writes that "one of the most 
memorable acts of Lovelace's administration was the 
purchase of Staten Island from the Indian Sachems 
who complained that they had never received full com- 
pensation from the Dutch. He quieted all their claims 
with a quantity of wampum, coats, kettles, guns, pow- 




Indians Surrendering Staten Island to the Representatives of the Eng- 
lish Crown. 

The natives brought from all parts of the Island, samples of the soil together 
with branchis of the trees and laid them down before the representatives of the 
English Crown, as a token of their conveyance of their lands to the Crown. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 13 

der, lead, axes, hoes, and knives, and obtained a deed 
in behalf of the Duke of York," who represented the 
English Crown and who subsequently ascended the 
throne of England. 

The true title to the present Island was taken over 
by the English Crown by honorable purchase from 
the native owners, and not by military invasion and 
conquest, which the deed now in existence clearly sets 
forth and fully proves. The original deed containing 
the signatures of the Indian Grantors may be seen 
among the State's archives at Albany. 

History further shows that "In sixteen hundred and 
sixty-four the States General of Holland demanded of 
England that the boundaries of Holland's and Eng- 
land's possessions in America should be adjusted. 
Charles the Second, then King of England, rather than 
acknowledge any claim of the Dutch to lands in North 
America met the demand with a declaration of war." 
The ensuing conflict resulted in the establishment and 
recognition of English sovereignty over the lands in 
question. This result was clearly defined in the treaty 
of peace made between the two nations at the close 
of the war. 

A work was published in London in the year sixteen 
hundred and seventy-one with the following profuse 
caption. 

"America, Being the Latest and most accurate de- 
scription of the New World and collected with the 
most authentick authors, augmented with later ob- 
servations and adorned with maps and sculptures, by 
John Ogilby, Esquire, His Majesty's Cosmographer, 
Geographick Printer and Master of Revels in the 
Kingdom of Ireland. London, Printed by the Author 
and are to be had at his house in Whitefryers, 
MDCLXXL" 



14 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

In a chapter of that book referring to the dispute 
between the Dutch and the English relating to the 
ownership of or title to the Colonies of which Staten 
Island formed a part, this authority states, ''So that 
they zvere forced to waive that title and the Dutch 
governor submitted his plantation to His Majesty of 
England and to the Governor of Virginia." 

It appears that the Indians, who were in fact "the 
very true, sole and lawful Indian owners of ye said 
Island" and which ''had been derived to them by their 
anncesters," had rather crude and forceful methods of 
procedure with those who undertook to establish un- 
lawful adverse possession by trespass on their lands. 
They dealt drastically with those who undertook to 
maintain possession of their (the Red Men's) prop- 
erty without the payment of the full consideration 
price therefor and without the consent of the owners 
thereof and who proposed to hold possession of such 
ill-acquired lands if necessary by force of arms. The 
Indians in a most unrefined and inelegant manner 
strenuously and most unceremoniously evicted such 
interlopers. In order that such trespassers should not 
return and repeat the act, they slew them. Oh the 
tragedy of it! It was the Red Man's hour of doom 
and his final protest was written in blood and filed 
against those who would wrest from him the heritage 
of his fathers. 

Inquiry is even yet frequently made as to whether 
any deeds to lands on Staten Island which were once 
possessed by Dutch settlers are a cloud upon the titles 
granted to other settlers by the Crown of England. 
This same inquiry is frequently recurrent as to titles 
in New Jersey, where far larger areas of land would 




IIeapquarters Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences. 
The museum of this association represents "one of the most complete and 
comprehensive local collections known." 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 15 

be seriously affected thereby should there be any real 
merit in such claims. 

Historians state that "the Indians did repeatedly 
sell Staten Island to the Dutch" and deeds now in ex- 
istence confinn the statement that the Dutch and In- 
dians did at various times enter into purchase and sale 
relations. 

The fact that the Indians repeatedly deeded the 
same lands to the Dutch indicates uncertainty and dis- 
satisfaction over prior deeds, at least on the part of 
one party thereto, and the recognition by the other 
party thereto of such discontent and protest. 

One or more Indian signatures to a deed of con- 
veyance to the Dutch is no final and conclusive proof 
that such Indians so executing such instruments had 
the right to sell the entire Island, or even any part 
thereof. 

The Indians always disputed the claims of the Dutch 
to the ownership of Staten Island under deeds and 
records now extant or which are known to have ex- 
isted. The Indians in their protests claimed that they 
had been deceived and wronged by the Dutch and that 
the proper consideration had never been paid to them. 

The attitude of the Indians toward the Dutch was 
in complete contrast to their attitude toward the Eng- 
lish purchasers. The Indians never disputed the 
rights of the English Crown after the deed was made 
by them and delivered to the English Sovereign. 

The Indians were exact and punctilious in carrying 
into complete effect their obligations under the terms 
of their sale to the English. Months in advance of 
the time set for the departure of the Indians from the 
land of their forefathers the English delivered to 
them the full purchase price. On the day designated 



i6 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

in the agreement the Indians departed from Staten 
Island and surrendered a quiet and peaceable posses- 
sion to the English Crown. 

What a strange and bewildering contradiction ! 

The Indians who had fought wars of unutterable 
fierceness against the advance of the Dutch settlers 
now quietly and peaceably gathered together all of 
their earthly possessions and in strict fidelity to their 
treaty obligations they abandoned their villages, fish- 
ing and hunting grounds. 

With stern, brave faces set toward the West they 
marshalled their fleets of canoes and moved out from 
their native haunts along the trail of the setting sun. 

It was a weird sad picture but they were faithful to 
honor even in the decline of their power. They were 
not coerced by the English but as parties to an honor- 
able compact they stood true to their treaty obliga- 
tions. 

This is no place to enter into a discussion of the 
Indians' challenge to the claims of the Dutch or the 
verdict of history which has been fully sustained by 
the courts that the English Crown's title to Staten 
Island was and is unimpeachable. 

No Dutch Grants to lands on Staten Island are of 
any value whatever unless the same were subsequently 
legalized, confirmed or regranted by the English 
Crown after the English Crown had purchased the 
Island from the original and true Indian owners of 
the soil. Even in that event the value of the title 
so acquired by such confirmatory action on the part of 
the English Crown would be by virtue of the said con- 
firmatory act of the Crown and not because of any 
legal or equitable value attached to the said Grant 
because of its Dutch origin. 




Indians Migrating to New Jersey and Vacating Staten Island to the Eng- 
lish Crown, in Strict Accordance with Their Treaty Obligations. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 17 

In support of this statement we cite the instance 
of the city of Newark, New Jersey, and other impor- 
tant cities in that state which are located on lands like- 
wise recited in Dutch Grants as having been conveyed 
to certain grantees from whom present day titles did 
not descend. These parallel cases emphasize the basic 
principles upon which rests the incontestability of Eng- 
lish Crown grants on Staten Island. We quote from 
recognized authorities. 

"From the beginning of Colonial Hfe in New Jersey, 
the attention of the settlers was mainly directed to- 
wards the adjustment of land titles and the settlement 
of conflicting claims." 

To the soil of New Jersey, as elucidated by John 
Whitehead, there were four great sources of title : 

"First through the Indian ; then through the Dutch, 
thirdly those from Governor Nicolls ; and lastly those 
from the Lords Proprietors. 

''Behind all was the Grant from Charles the Sec- 
ond, claiming paramount title by virtue of discovery 
and his undoubted estate in the later colonies and 
parts of colonies originally granted as 'Crown 
Lands.' " 

On Staten Island, however, the Crown in addition 
to the above mentioned right of prior discovery pur- 
chased the entire and complete estate of the Indians 
in the Island and for valuable considerations success- 
fully and honorably induced the Indians to make com- 
plete and peaceful removal from such lands on May 
the first, sixteen hundred and seventy-one. 

We have already noted how the Staten Island In- 
dian not only filed his protest against the trespass on 
the part of the Dutch settlers but how in support of 
such an attitude he forcibly evicted them in a most 



i8 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

drastic and summary manner. We now note the re- 
establishment of Dutch sovereignty over the Island 
and its final and complete termination. 

In sixteen hundred and seventy-two, France and 
England declared war against Holland. In sixteen 
hundred and seventy-three, a Dutch fleet anchored in 
close proximity to the shores of Staten Island. 
Troops were landed on Manhattan Island on the 
eighth day of August, sixteen hundred and seventy- 
three, and the city of New York was then captured 
by the surrender of its forts to the Dutch. The prov- 
ince of New York, including Staten Island and all 
of the Eastern part of New Jersey immediately sub- 
mitted to the Dutch authorities, who by the so-called 
"right of conquest" acquired new political sovereignty 
thereto. This right of conquest did not revive the old 
order of things but as a principle of International law 
it established in the Dutch a new sovereignty from 
that date. New and complete forms of government 
were immediately instituted by Holland officials and 
were put into prompt effect by the Dutch authorities. 

Supreme political control thereupon passed from the 
British government to the States General of the 
United Netherlands and to the Prince of Orange by 
virtue of military conquest. It did not revive any 
prior Dutch ownership. Former Dutch proprietorship 
and ownership had been previously extinguished, ac- 
cording to the rules of International law, when the 
English government had previously come into supreme 
and effective control. 

This final and last tenure of Dutch rule was short 
lived. Upon the ninth day of February, sixteen hun- 
dred and seventy-four, by a treaty of peace between 
Holland and England, which treaty was signed at 




The Old Perrine Homestead Built About 1668. 

Headquarters of and owned by the Staten Island Antiquarian Society, 
Dongan Hills, Staten Islard. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 19 

Westminster in England, the City of New York to- 
gether with Staten Island and New Jersey, passed 
again under English rule. This latter transfer was 
publicly proclaimed in New York in July of the same 
year. 

"Although the Dutch had ceded New York and New 
Jersey to the King, it was held," says John Austin 
Stevens, "that the rights of the Duke of York had 
been extinguished by the conquest and that restitution 
to the sovereign did not convey restitution to the sub- 
ject. To accomplish this purpose the Duke obtained 
a new patent for his property on Staten Island under 
date of June twenty-ninth, sixteen hundred and sev- 
enty-four." 

This rule of non-restitution also applied with like 
force and effect to the Dutch grantees who found 
themselves similarly situated. Their rights were de- 
pendent upon their sovereign's ownership, which own- 
ership had been teiTninated by conquest, according to 
the accepted rules of International law. 

The termination of the title of the Dutch grantees 
was even more clearly and sharply defined, as is ad- 
mitted by all authorities, from the fact that the Dutch 
grantees held but leaseholds from a political sov- 
ereignty which based its title upon a political control 
which rested exclusively upon the right of conquest. 

Such a title was acquired by force of arms main- 
tained by military power and was subject to the vi- 
cissitudes of war. The Dutch Government had pro- 
claimed its sovereignty by fiat and had asserted it by 
force of arms. It likewise lost it by force of arms. 
It had not purchased the lands of the native owners 
and paid the actual Indian owners therefor as did the 
Crown of England. It was after the Government of 



20 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

England had asserted and established political sov- 
ereignty over the Provinces that the English Crown 
bought from the Indians and paid the price for the 
lands on Staten Island. Had the Dutch been the 
original discoverers and had the Dutch West India 
Company followed the instructions of the States Gen- 
eral of Holland and properly purchased Staten Island 
from the Indian owners for valuable considerations 
and paid the price for the lands on Staten Island and 
had Holland successfully maintained her sovereignty 
in her war with England, such titles would have held 
good in Dutch, English and American Courts. Each 
and every act recited was necessary to the obtaining 
by the Dutch West India Company of a good and suf- 
ficient title. 

Had the Dutch complied with and performed the 
first two conditions and then been defeated in the ap- 
peal to arms the deeds given to settlers would have 
been sustained in English and American Courts, but 
the control by the West India Company would have 
forever ceased. 

At that time the world powers of Europe recog- 
nized no rights of the Indians in the lands which the 
natives and their ancestors had occupied for centuries. 

The European Governments arbitrarily decreed that 
the Indians were nomads and they were generally 
treated as such. 

England's policy, however, when actually put into 
practice was far in advance of the theories relating 
to the Indians which were at that time promulgated 
from the Chancelleries of Europe, which theories Eng- 
land diplomatically recognized but would not impress. 

England always acted on the policy that the Indians 
were the true and lawful owners of the soil they oc- 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 21 

cupied. Great Britain asserted political control and 
sovereignty over the territory occupied by the various 
native tribes. This it did in behalf of humanity and 
commercial development. It, however, always left 
the Indians free to exercise an unrestrained self gov- 
ernment and recognized their ownership of the soil on 
which they hunted and where their villages were 
erected. 

This is clearly shown in the recitations in the vari- 
ous Indian deeds drawn and executed by the repre- 
sentatives of the English Crown. 

It also recognized the Indians as human beings who, 
by the unprecedented advance and development of 
the dominant races, had been left her wards in the 
vast territories which had fallen to her lot to govern. 

The Crown acknowledged that the Indians in the 
English colonies were a race over which the estab- 
lished Church of England was peculiarly bound to ex- 
tend its ministry of service and uplift. Funds were 
freely appropriated by both Church and State for that 
purpose. 

Pursuant to such a doctrine of Wardship and 
the moral responsibility incumbent upon the established 
Church to undertake the improvement of the mental, 
moral and industrial condition of the natives the State 
and Church labored in full accord to accomplish that 
result. The work of the clergy of the Church of 
England among the Indians was worthy of the apos- 
tles. 

The natives rightly associated the Church of Eng- 
land with the British Government. The mighty and 
successful influence of that Church among the Six 
Nations in Central New York and among other tribes 



22 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

in the Colonies bound the Indians very closely to the 
Government of Great Britain. 

Frank, honest and straightforward were the deal- 
ings of the Civil Government of Great Britain with 
the Indians. Firm, generally just and humane was 
the treatment of them by the military officers of the 
English Army. The latter seem to have been imbued 
with a consciousness of their duty to these strange 
people. A new knowledge of the Great Spirit and a 
clearer vision of the Indians' Happy Hunting Ground 
were imparted to the natives by the representatives of 
the Church of England. England by her humane pol- 
icy established a bond of allegiance and good will 
between herself and the aborigines. 

When the Crown desired to purchase lands of the 
Indians it always agreed with them upon a valuable 
consideration. Then it exhausted every reasonable 
means to cause the natives to fully understand the 
terms of the bargain they had made and the extent of 
the lands which they had conveyed away to the Crown. 

This was all in severe contrast to the treatment ex- 
perienced by the natives at the hands of the settlers 
and traders and the keen minds of the Red Men 
differentiated between them. 

When the hour of destiny struck for the separation 
of the Colonies from the Mother Country a majority 
of the Indians in the Colonies were found arrayed on 
the side of the Government that had been faithful to 
its treaties and in behalf of the established Church 
that had opened up to them a larger and higher vision 
of life. 

It was only in the exceptional case that the Indians 
espoused the cause of the Settler. 

After the English Crown had acquired the actual 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 23 

title to the lands on Staten Island it made many grants 
of various tracts for settlement and farming purposes 
until it had granted about one half (^ ) of the Island. 
Then Queen Anne, the owner in fee of all of the re- 
maining Staten Island lands, made one final, com- 
plete and comprehensive grant of all of the Crown 
lands on the Island to Major Lancaster Symes. This 
grant was made for meritorious and valuable services 
rendered by him to the Crown of England and to the 
nation for which he fought and to the Provinces in 
behalf of which he labored up to the close of his event- 
ful and strenuous life. 

American historians give scant attention to the re- 
markable record and striking personality of this loyal, 
heroic and commercially successful son of eminent 
English ancestry. Little regard has been likewise paid 
to the valuable properties acquired by him embracing 
as they did about one half (^) of Staten Island and 
which properties have been properly handed down to 
succeeding generations by this militant officer and 
devout Churchman highly esteemed in the Royal 
service. 

Much might here be said as to the effect of high 
ideals transmitted from generation to generation in 
the Symes family. "Droit et Loyal" (Upright and 
Loyal) was one of the ringing mottoes emblazoned 
on the Symes family coat of arms and spread upon 
the walls of its manor houses. The head of a hel- 
meted knight with visor raised was proclaimed as 
their token for preparedness for national defence as 
well as a wide open vision of life. "Upright and 
Loyal" was a fearless motto for a family to fling to 
the breeze preceding, during and succeeding the reign 



24 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

of Queen Anne. Yet the Symes family placed it 
there and maintained it during many a stern test. 

This is no place for a genealogical table but "Blood 
tells," and Major Lancaster Symes, who came into a 
large estate on Staten Island because of his fidelity 
to principle and defence of national existence, had the 
blood of true nobility coursing in his veins. He placed 
his life and estates many times in jeopardy so that 
English rights and liberties might survive. He is at 
least entitled to his proper place in Colonial history 
and in the annals of the civilization which he loyally 
served. He won his way into that true "Hall of 
Fame", the hearts of his countrymen, when he placed 
his all at the disposal of his country's call and stood 
for righteousness in days of stress and trial. 

Northamptonshire in England was the seat of one 
of the most important branches of this distinguished 
family. For important services to the State one of 
its sons was rewarded by Charles the Second with a 
valuable grant of land in Wexford. He married the 
sister of the private secretary of King James the Sec- 
ond, who prior to his accession to the throne of Eng- 
land was James, Duke of York, to whom the Crown 
had granted the Province of New York. Reverend 
Michael Symes was a Rector of Kilcommon. From 
the eldest son of this Rector descended a line eminent 
in English ecclesiastical affairs and heroes in many of 
England's crucial battles in which several of the Symes 
family fell in fidelity to their pledge "Upright and 
Loyal." As this book goes to press a representative 
of this Symes family is said to be now fighting (if 
he has not fallen) in the ranks of "The Allies" true 
to the convictions of loyalty that seem ever to have 
bound this family to their native land. 




^A^ILL 



In tke name of God* Amen 

FIRST. d£2^<-~»^-^ . 







Copy of the Opening Paragraphs of the "Last Will and Testament" OF 
Major Lancaster Symes. 

For simplicity of faith, sublime courage and eager outlook into "the larger 
life" this preamble interprets itself. 

It is in every respect worthy of the endower of St. Andrew's Church on 
Staten Island, a vestryman of Trinity Church in New York City and a Warden 
of St. Peter's Church in Albany. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 25 

English history relating to a Symes, whether as a 
statesman at Rangoon in Asia, as a soldier at the 
battle of Guadeloupe or wherever the Symes name ap- 
pears among the clergy, in the army, or in the navy, 
seems to glow the brighter and become the purer be- 
cause of the presence of such a life. 

We wonder not then that the Crown of England, in 
the person of Her Majesty, Queen Anne, should have 
abdicated all of its rights on Staten Island to such a 
loyal son for his meritorious services to the Crown. 
We also wonder not that Major Lancaster Symes upon 
receiving such a grant of land as a token of 
Royal favor should immediately convey to St. An- 
drew's Church on Staten Island, land "in trust and 
for the use of the Church of England" ; also other 
land for its endowment. These conveyances were 
made by him as a token of that deep-seated religious 
fervor that for generations had been typical of this 
"Upright and Loyal" family and which fervor had 
been the dynamic force in his eventful and useful 
life. 

Extracts from the last will and testament of Major 
Lancaster Symes which appear herein are a fitting 
commentary upon the name of one worthy of the 
highest traditions of the Symes family. It does honor 
to the noble line of friends and benefactors of the be- 
loved St. Andrew's Church at Richmond, Staten 
Island, The name of Lancaster Symes should be held 
in remembrance and high esteem by all those who re- 
gard with true emotion the best and truest influences 
that contributed to Colonial development in the days 
of the foundation work of American institutions. 
Let his name be honored and his rights preserved! 

The Lancaster Symes grant to lands on Staten 



26 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

Island was issued to him by the Royal owner-in-fee 
subject to quit rents. The rents were promptly and 
fully paid until the title in fee was confirmed by the 
State of New York to the descendants of Major 
Symes at the close of the War of 1812, when all quit 
rents ceased because of the large payment made by the 
Symes interests to the State of New York, in full and 
complete satisfaction thereof. The State of New 
York at that time re-confirmed the said Grant in the 
Symes heirs and successors as is clearly and fully 
shown on the public records of the State. 

It is interesting to note that the Trinity Church Cor- 
poration of New York City received its grant from 
Queen Anne to the enormously valuable lands now 
owned by it and upon which St. Paul's Church now 
stands. This grant from Her Majesty to what was 
then known as the Queen's Farm was issued to Trin- 
ity Church about five years prior to the date of the 
Queen's Staten Island grant tP Major Lancaster 
Symes. The phrasing of the two grants is much alike 
and both are similar in effect. 

At about the same time the Queen was bestowing 
with a lavish hand her tokens of favor and aid upon 
many Colonial Churches. Tablets on the walls and 
manuscripts among the records of many now mag- 
nificent and stately American Churches bear tes- 
timony to the generosity of this gracious sovereign, 
A tablet on the wall of St. Andrew's Church, in 
Richmond, Staten Island, bears a like tribute. This 
tablet is reproduced and appears among the illustra- 
tions in this narrative. Queen Anne's generous gift 
to Trinity Church did not go unchallenged for in more 
recent years an attempt was made to assert claims to 
that property in behalf of the descendants of Anneke 






1708 1908 

THIS TWO HUNOREOTM AHNIVERSAHY OF ITS fOUHOATlON 
,-' -■ THE SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHOLARS AND MEMBERS 
/ ;, OF ST. ANDREW'S PARISH RAISE THIS TABLET 

: • S^\ TO THE MEMORY OF 

' '*' GOOD QUEEN ANNE 

OF ENGLAND, IN CRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF 
- — - ' WHAT SHE WROUGHT FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST 
m THIS COMMUNITY AND COUNTRY + IN 1704 HER FAITHFUL 
MINISTER THE REVEREND AENEAS MACKENZIE WAS SENT TO 
SHEPHERD HER SUBJECTS ON THIS ISLAND IN 1708 THE PARISH 
WAS FOUNDED m 1709-M THIS CHU8CH WAS BUILT AND IN 1713 
iT WAS FORMALLY PRESENTED TO THE BVRISH 8Y QUEEN ANNE 
AS HEAD OF REALM AND CHURCH WITH VALUABLE CLEBE LAMOS 
A CHURCH BELL AND A SILVER COMMUNION SERVICE STILL 
USED IN THE ^^'ORSHIP OF THE CHURCH IN 1713 SHE CRANTEft 
THE PARISH HER PERPETUAL ROYAL CHARTER WHICH IS ST|t|» 



1* i 


''? * 


"? 'i 


iiT M 


^ 1 



Tablet in St. Andrew's Church 

This Tablet is on the Inner Walls of St. Andrew's Church at Richmond, 

Staten Island. 

The "Valuable Glebe Lands" therein referred to were a gift to St. Andrew's 
Church from Major Lancaster Symes and not from Queen Anne, as erroneously 
reported. 

The Queen was a munificent benefactress to the church and the tablet is 
a well deserved token of gratitude. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 27 

Jans. This was done under color of an old Dutch 
grant. The Anneke Jans claims were defeated in the 
Courts by a strictly nonconformist jury and the grant 
made by Queen Anne was fully sustained. The gen- 
uineness of Queen Anne's Staten Island grant to Ma- 
jor Lancaster Symes and the basis of his deed to St. 
Andrew's Church on Staten Island is above and be- 
yond all legal challenge. 

Of all the multitudinous Grants and gifts made by 
Queen Anne to Colonial Churches not one has been 
successfully called into question and all have served the 
object for which they were intended by the Queen. 
Queen Anne made generous and beautiful gifts to St. 
Peter's Church in Albany, New York. It possesses 
one document of rare value and pathetic interest. It 
is the Crown Grant to land given to it by the Eng- 
lish Sovereign. This instrument was issued very 
soon after the death of Queen Anne and was signed by 
King George the First who sealed it with Queen 
Anne's Royal seal and adorned it with the vignette 
of that good Queen who had passed on to be re- 
crowned in "that Temple not made with hands, Eter- 
nal in the Heavens." 

This grant, so made to St. Peter's Church, was sub- 
sequently challenged and contested in the Courts but 
was sustained by judicial decree. 

By her grants to Trinity Church, to Major Lan- 
caster Symes and to St. Peter's Church in Albany, the 
Queen, who was an enthusiastic supporter of the Es- 
tablished Church of England, caused a large endow- 
ment to Trinity Church, St. Paul's Church, St. An- 
drew's Church and St. Peter's Church. All of these 
powerful Churches are now connected with and are 
included in sister dioceses and have been a tremendous 



28 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

influence in the development of the best elements in 
American citizenship. 

The one supreme development in the reign of King 
James the First (1611, A. D. ), a predecessor to Queen 
Anne on the throne of England, was the translation, 
publication and delivery to the world of King James' 
edition oi the Bible. This edition is recognized by 
scholars as the great masterpiece of English literature. 
It has had greater influence upon human thought and 
action than any other work ever issued from the print- 
ing press. 

A free Bible in wide general circulation resulted in 
intense mental activity followed by tremendous events. 
Finally William and Mary came to the throne, the ex- 
emplars of religious liberty. The public sought places 
of worship but there was a dire lack of Churches in 
England. At that crisis Queen Anne was crowned. 
She assumed the sceptre with a heart charged with 
zeal for Church erection. 

The phenomenal development in the reign of Queen 
Anne was the erection of houses of worship in which 
King James' edition of the Bible was to be the ac- 
cepted authority of Divine revelation. Correlated to 
this unique work of the Queen in England and impor- 
tant factors in this great undertaking were the 
Churches located at strategic points in the province^. 

The chartering, establishment and endowment by 
her Majesty Queen Anne of an important group dt 
Churches in America was but a part of a great and 
successful effort on the part of the Queen for the de- 
velopment of powerful religious agencies in her realm, 
especially in and about both the city of London, the 
Royal city of England, and the city of New York 




St. Peter's Church, Albany, N. Y. 

Major Lancaster Symes when a member of the Colonial Assembly at Albany 
was an active, earnest and efficient warden of this church. Then it was weak and 
dependent, now it is powerful and the mother of mighty benefactions. 

This church was erected on land conveyed to it by an English Crown Grant. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 29 

which was destined to become the Imperial City of the 
new continent. 

She inckided in her gifts Churches in Boston, Al- 
Ijany, Philadelphia and she also scattered tokens of her 
interest and zeal in Maryland, Virginia, Carolina and 
other States. 

Through the Queen's influence and under her Maj- 
esty's direct guidance, the English parliament in the 
tenth year of her reign passed an act for the erection 
of over fifty houses of worship in the city of London 
and its immediate suburbs. Under the devoted leader- 
ship of this Queen a renewed inspiration seized upon 
the divinely endowed genius of Sir Christopher Wren, 
Thenbrugh, James Gibbs, Thomas Archer and others, 
who dedicated or rededicated their rare talents to the 
designing and construction of houses of worship. 
]\Iany of the most revered Churches now in London, 
such as St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, St. Mary's-in-the 
Strand, and St. John's-the-Evangelist, became, with the 
above-mentioned group of American Churches, shrines 
that have not only evidenced their divine call for cen- 
turies but will continue their constant and powerful 
mission as generation after generation continues to 
pass on into the Great Beyond. Grand old St. Paul's 
Cathedral in London reached its mighty and glorious 
climax in this epoch of Queen Anne's unique reign. 

The Queen's selection of true and loyal subjects 
to aid and assist her in the development of moral in- 
fluences throughout her realm is an interesting sub- 
ject of inquiry. From the evidence at hand we are in 
no wise surprised to find, included in that group, Ma- 
jor Lancaster Symes of the vestry of Trinity Church 
and later a warden of St. Peter's Church in Albany, 



30 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

one of the patrons approved by the Queen for the Col- 
onies. 

Major Lancaster Symes arrived in New York from 
England on the ship Beaver on the twenty-eighth day 
of January, sixteen hundred and ninety. He was at 
that time an ensign in the company of infantry com- 
manded by his brother-in-law, Richard Ingoldesby. 
This company was a part of the escort sent with 
Colonel Henry Sloughter when the latter appeared 
with his commission as governor of the province of 
New York. Major (then Ensign) Symes' first pub- 
lic act was the demand made by himself, Counsellor 
Brooks and Lieutenant Shanks, for the surrender to 
Governor Ingoldesby of the fort of New York. En- 
sign Symes' services to Governor Sloughter and the 
Crown were highly approved. 

In sixteen hundred and ninety-one, Governor 
Sloughter wrote to the committee of Foreign Plan- 
tations in London, as follows, "Lieutenant Wildbor- 
ough is dead. I have commissioned one, Lancaster 
Simmes in his stead, he is one that came from Eng- 
land with us, a good soldier and diligent in business 
therefore pray he may be allowed." On the same day 
Governor Sloughter, in writing to the Duke of Bol- 
ton, said, "Major Ingoldesby and myself humbly beg 
your Grace's favor that Lancaster Simmes may be 
confirmed Lieftennant instead of Lieftennant Wild- 
boare, who dyed at sea. Simmes came over with the 
Major; he is a soldier and qualified in every respect." 

In the year sixteen hundred and ninety-two, and 
the early part of sixteen hundred and ninety-three, 
the then Lieutenant Symes was stationed at Albany 
from whence he hastened with troops, provisions and 
ammunition for the relief of Major Peter Schuyler 




Major Symes Purchasing a Negro Hoy from Captain Kidd, Thereby Re- 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 31 

(the adopted "beloved brother Ouider" of the Six Na- 
tions) who was then in pursuit of the French and 
Indians on the latter's retreat from the Mohawk 
Valley. History says that Major "Symes arrived 
with his men at a very opportune moment." At the 
close of the Mohawk Valley Campaign Symes returned 
to the City of New York and was sent in the follow- 
ing May to Suffolk County on Long Island in an un- 
successful attempt to enlist in that county its quota 
of troops which had been ordered to Albany. 

On one occasion upon the arrival in New York har- 
bor of the historic Captain Kidd there was discovered 
in that Pirate's possession a very bright, active and 
naturally intelligent negro boy who was held by him 
as a slave. The boy was promptly purchased by Major 
Lancaster Symes in September sixteen hundred and 
ninety-nine, for fifteen pounds sterling (£15.). The 
boy was thereby released from the mastery of that no- 
torious rover of the seas. 

The then Lieutenant Symes' active and efficient 
support to the administration of Governor Sloughter 
and his successor, rendered him objectionable to the 
Leislerian party who came into power on the advent 
of the Earl of Bellamont. This nobleman relieved 
Symes from command as a lieutenant of Major In- 
goldesby's company of fusileers, on the misleading 
charge that Lieutenant Symes had overstayed his leave 
of absence from Albany when, in fact, the Lieutenant 
was elsewhere on the King's business. Following this 
manifestly unjust action Lieutenant Symes became 
one of a group of petitioners to the King denouncing 
the administration of Bellamont and the latter's in- 
justice to them. 

Trinity Church at that time was openly and 



32 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

avowedly anti-Leisler. Immediately after Lieutenant 
Symes was relieved from military command by the 
Earl of Bellamont, the gallant and fearless officer 
Symes was elected a member of the vestry of that 
Church, which office he very satisfactorily and effi- 
ciently filled from the close of sixteen hundred and 
ninety-eight to seventeen hundred and four and then 
again in seventeen hundred and five. 

In seventeen hundred and one, and in seventeen 
hundred and two, pending the bitter political contro- 
versy then raging in the Kingdom and the previously 
mentioned appeal to the Throne, Lancaster Symes with 
Robert Walters, Cornelius De Peyster, Colonel Caleb 
Heathcote, Matthew Clarkson (two of whom appear 
on the vestry roll of Trinity Church) and others, ob- 
tained a Crown grant for upwards of five thousand 
(5,000) acres of land in Westchester County, New 
York, which tract was subsequently known as the 
West patent of Northcastle. In seventeen hundred 
and three. Major Symes became one of the grantees 
in the Minnisinck patent, in Orange County, New 
York. In seventeen hundred and seven, he secured a 
grant of land in the town of Monroe, Orange County. 
In seventeen hundred and eight, he secured a grant 
of land in Clarkstown, near Haverstraw, in Rockland 
County, New York. On October twenty-seventh, sev- 
enteen hundred and eight, Symes received his grant 
to lands and other rights on Staten Island, and in sev- 
enteen hundred and nine, he acquired a one eighth 
(yg) interest in six thousand five hundred (6,500) 
acres of land situated in Orange and Ulster Counties. 

The events portrayed herein have had a momentous 
bearing upon the ecclesiastical history not only of New 
York City but of the nation. 




Major Lancaster Symes Was for Many Years a Vestryman of Trinity 

Church. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 33 

Who does not know and understand the towering 
history, wide outreach and deep influence increasing 
from generation to generation, of Trinity Protestant 
Episcopal Church of New York City? To such the 
following narrated facts will be of especial interest 
as they vision before the mind the gracious and good 
Queen Anne and the upright and loyal Major Lan- 
caster Symes. They appear together as important 
actors in a religious drama, certain scenes of which 
are staged in the province of New York and in which 
they both played their parts so well that history doth 
write their names in letters of gold and as we read 
the account our hearts are moved in gratitude to the 
Major and in praise of the Queen. 

In the years sixteen hundred and ninety-nine, sev- 
enteen hundred, seventeen hundred and one, seventeen 
hundred and two and seventeen hundred and three, 
and then again in seventeen hundred and five, the then 
Lieutenant Lancaster Symes sat an honored and be- 
loved vestryman in the counsels of Trinity Church 
of New York City. 

During that period Major Svmes was associated 
with the following vestrymen : 

Thos. Wenham, Member of the King's Council. 
William Morris, Chief Justice of the Province. 
John Tudor, Recorder of Nezu York. 
William Merret, Member of Council, member of 

Assembly and mayor of New York City. 
David Jamison, Attorney General of the Province. 
William Nicoll, Associate Judge and repeatedly 

speaker of The House of Assembly. 
Matthew Clarkson, Ex-secretary of the Proinnce. 
Rob't Lettice Hooper, Colonel in the English Army. 



34 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

William Sharpas, Member of the Council. 
Colonel Robert Lurting, Who became mayor of 

New York City. 
Colonel Caleb Heathcote, Who became mayor of 

New York City. 
William Peartree, Mayor of New York City. 
Sampson Shelton Broughton, City Recorder and 

Attorney General of the Province. 
Thomas Clarke, Secretary of the Province. 
M. BicKLEY, Attorney General of the Province. 

From an old record we select the following tribute 
paid by the eminent Rector of Trinity Church Rev- 
erend William Berrian, D.D., to the Vestry, who so 
earnestly and successfully labored, not only for Trm- 
ity Church, but for the upbuilding of the mtellectual 
and spiritual life of the mighty nation that was yet 

"Whose (Trinity's) concerns they have managed 
with so much prudence, whose wealth they have dis- 
pensed with so much liberality and whose rights and 
privileges they have at all times so conscientiously and 
manfully defended" and those who "adorned the age 
in which they lived." 

Surely this was a remarkable procession of remark- 
able men engaged in a remarkable work. _ 

Thereafter events of mighty import to Trinity 
Church and the Province come trooping in one follow- 
ing another, or better, like link after link of a golden 
chain they ran a line forward and left a trail back- 
ward that marked a Royal highway from a noble past 
through a toilsome present and on toward a glorious 

future. . f 

At that strategic pass in the rough mountains ot 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 35 

Colonial history there stood in the midst of a group 
of noble souls that militant army officer and Chris- 
tian knight, Major Lancaster Symes, who with a sol- 
dier's courage and a true Christian's zeal became with 
his associates a mighty influence in this niche of time. 
Major Symes was, according to the Queen's own 
statement, a "much beloved subject." He was also 
a very active vestryman in the Queen's much beloved 
Church of England. 

We note as a further evidence of the confidence and 
high esteem with which Major Lancaster Symes was 
held in the Province both as to his character and busi- 
ness ability, that he was the executor of the es- 
tate of Colonel Richard Ingoldesby who was the Lieu- 
tenant-Governor of the province in the years seven- 
teen hundred and nine and seventeen hundred and ten. 
He was appointed executor, pursuant to the ante mor- 
tem request of Col. Richard Ingoldesby. 

Major Symes was also the designated executor of 
the will of David Gallant, settling his estate in sev- 
enteen hundred and ten. He was also the adminis- 
trator and the principal creditor of the estate of James 
Battersby in seventeen hundred and fifteen, and was 
likewise, pursuant to the terms of a will, the ex- 
ecutor of the estate of John Buckler, in seventeen 
hundred and nineteen. 

The confidence shown in Major Symes was doubt- 
less inspired, not only by his success in building up 
his own private fortune, his position in the vestry 
of Trinity Church, but also because of his record as 
public appraiser of the City of New York, to which 
he was appointed in seventeen hundred and four. The 
public also knew of his excellent army record and his 



2,6 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

profound interest in the moral and educational devel- 
opment of the public. 

The conclusive proof of Major Lancaster Symes' 
eminent standing in the community in which he re- 
sided and in the Province which he served was "con- 
ferring upon him the freedom of the City." This 
high honor was also conferred upon his son Lan- 
caster Symes 2nd, after the death of the Major. 

Queene Anne, "the religious Queen," had inaugu- 
rated a great work for religious expansion in the Brit- 
ish realm as elsewhere referred to herein. Major 
Symes as a man of affairs, was fully conversant with 
the character of the Queen and her enthusiasm in be- 
half of the Church of England. He was a vestryman 
of Trinity Church. He was also well acquainted at 
that time with Trinity Church's peculiar needs and 
the needs of the province for just such a Church. 

There are modern students of history who have 
sought to discover the special influences that directed 
the Queen's attention to the needs of the Church in 
the Colonies and the causes for Queen Anne's royal 
endowment of Trinity Church and found them not. 
Did they first look into the record of the vestry of 
Trinity Church and there become acquainted with the 
history of the Queen's esteemed and loyal servant 
Major Lancaster Symes? Did they there read the 
lines and between the lines and interpret the facts? 

To follow out that line of inquiry is very pertinent. 
Lancaster Symes the vestryman was the object of the 
Queen's esteem, as the entire vestry doubtless pos- 
sessed her supreme confidence. He was by nature as 
well as officially in deep sympathy with the needs of 
Trinity Church, and of the Province in general. He 
well knew the religious enthusiasm and worthy am- 




St. Paul's Church, New York City. 

This church was erected and now stands on land granted by Queen Anne to 
Trinity Church. It was then known as the "Queen's Farm." 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 37 

bition of the Queen. She was overwhelmed at that 
time with the dire need of London for enlarged fa- 
cilities for religious worship because of the interest 
awakened by the then recent rapid development of re- 
ligious knowledge and liberty throughout England 
and Scotland. 

In response to popular demand and in accord with 
her own religious zeal she was in the midst of prepa- 
rations for one of the greatest Church building cam- 
paigns recorded in the world's history. Suddenly she 
became in some special manner aware of the require- 
ments of Trinity Church In far away New York City 
across the then almost appalling Atlantic. Who was 
the most probable representative to impress the needs 
of that particular Church upon the attention of the 
Queen? Was it not the one vestryman who was al- 
ready admitted into the confidence of the Queen and 
who was the known champion of the Crown and the 
Church ? The application to her for a Grant to Trin- 
ity Church of the "Queen's Farm" was made by the 
entire official body, all of whom were worthy of the 
equal confidence of the sovereign. To which one in 
that noble group may be attributed the genius that 
inspired the petition and the chief influence that pro- 
duced the result? 

At that time the Churches in the Colony had a pow- 
erful and intensely earnest friend in Reverend Thomas 
Bray who eloquently presented their needs in Lon- 
don. An inquiry into the life and efforts of that great 
and good man discloses his special concern in and 
anxiety for the Church in Maryland and neighboring 
States though he did have sympathy with and inter- 
est in all. His pleas were specially directed, however, 



38 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

in behalf of the Qiurches in proximity to the Chesa- 
peake Bay. 

There was one very pecuHar and strong reason why 
the Queen had a special willingness to listen to any 
appeal from Major Symes in behalf of Trinity Church 
and to also richly provide for him. When Queen 
Anne came to power she found the famous protest 
from Major Symes and others against the reckless and 
improper administration of affairs in the Colony. 
She also then discovered the bitter persecution which 
he had endured because of his loyalty to his convic- 
tions and to the Church of England which she so 
dearly loved. We refer to the time when the Earl 
of Bellamont sought by charges to, and did for a 
time, sadly reflect upon his fidelity to the Crown. 

Major Symes was a vestryman of Trinity Church 
from sixteen hundred and ninety-nine to seventeen 
hundred and four, but In seventeen hundred and four 
he retired from the vestry, returning in seventeen 
hundred and five. In the latter year the Queen gave 
to Trinity Church the magnificent property called 
" 'The Queen's Farms,' extending from Fulton Street 
to Christopher Street and from Broadway to the Hud- 
son River." It appears more than probable that this 
servant of the Queen and the Church was a powerful 
influence among his brethren in their presentation of 
the needs of Trinity to the Queen, which presentation 
resulted in the royal gift. 

Major Symes had not only served the Crown in 
times of peace as well as in times of war but he had 
also suffered humiliating persecution in behalf of the 
Queen's beloved Church of England. 

He was a favorite with Colonel Heathcote, a potent 
influence with the Crown. He was also a close per- 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 39 

sonal friend and was on the military staff of Edward 
Hyde, a cousin of Queen Anne, who was Lord Corn- 
bury the governor of New York, and who subse- 
quently became the Earl of Clarendon. The intimate 
friendship between Major Symes and the Cousin of 
the Queen, Lord Cornbury the governor of New York, 
was evidenced by a very substantial token when Lord 
Cornbury became personally involved in financial 
troubles upon his retirement from the governorship 
and when his body was held in the Colonies for debt. 
He was not allowed to leave the province, on the 
death of his father, to become the Earl of Claren- 
don until his friend Major Symes had generously paid 
all of his financial obligations. 

Queen Anne and Lord Cornbury, the governor of 
New York, were both grandchildren of Edward Hyde 
the first Earl of Clarendon. It was Lord Cornbury, 
the Queen's cousin, who issued the grant of the 
Queen's Farm to Trinity Church in the name of 
Queen Anne. This grant was made by Lord Corn- 
bury to Trinity Church prior to the loans made by 
Major Symes to him. It was, however, the bond of 
friendship between Lord Cornbury and Major Symes 
that induced the loans and the record of such loans 
is a substantial evidence of the strength of that 
friendship. 

The Queen's proclamations frequently refer to Lord 
Cornbury as her "dearly beloved Cousin." Major 
Symes was his bosom friend and a vestryman of Trin- 
ity Church. It was this friend of Major Symes that 
passed upon, approved and in fact made the grant to 
Trinity Church. It would be inconceivable that these 
two close friends should never have discussed between 
themselves the needs of Trinity Church. 



40 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN ' 

Furthermore it was after Major Symes had 
made his deeds of land to St. Andrew's Church on 
Staten Island, "in trust and for the use of the Church 
of England," and for glebe lands that Queen Anne 
declared in a Royal proclamation that she was in- 
duced to bestow her Royal gifts upon St. Andrew's 
Church because of the generous benefactions made to 
it by some of her "beloved subjects," among whom to 
a generous degree we find Major Lancaster Symes. 

Major Symes' personal influence with Queen Anne 
and her confidence in him and the Churches with 
which he was connected may reasonably be inferred 
from the fact that it was after he became identified 
with and later when he became a warden of St. Peter's 
Church at Albany that the Queen's benefactions were 
bestowed upon it. He was one of its two wardens 
to solicit a Rector from London, why not one to seek 
a Crown Grant in its behalf, he being so well known 
and beloved by the Queen ? 

The Queen, however, did not either commence or 
stop with Church endowments in gracious treatment 
of Major Symes. She forgot not the personal and 
financial welfare of her faithful servant who had up- 
permost in his heart the interests of the Crown and 
the cause of religion. This is plainly evident from 
the several valuable grants made by her to Major 
Symes, prior and subsequent to her grant to him of 
the lands on Staten Island. 

In seventeen hundred and eight, only three years 
subsequent to the Queen's grant of the "Queen's 
Farm" to Trinity Church, a very short period in view 
of the many voyages necessary between the two con- 
tinents on such an important matter, there appeared in 
America a Royal Crown Grant from her Majesty to 




In i/ii, the year in which St. Andrew's Church was completed, IMajor 
Symes presented to it a deed conveying to the church 133 acres of land on 
Staten Island "for the use of the Church of England," also 26 acres of land 
for its glebe use. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 41 

her "Loving Subject" Major Lancaster Symes. This 
grant closed out to him all of the Queen's lands and 
rights on Staten Island as is clearly shown of record. 

At that time a lone missionary, commissioned by the 
"Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign 
Parts" with its headquarters in London and repre- 
senting the Established Church of England, was labor- 
ing as best he could on Staten Island. Immediately, 
however, upon Major Symes receiving his grant to 
all of the Queen's lands and rights on Staten Island 
(1708), the St. Andrew's Church Parish on Staten 
Island was founded. Major Symes received in one 
hand the grant to all of the Queen's lands on Staten 
Island and with his other hand he immediately com- 
menced to co-operate with the other worthy and gen- 
erous founders in laying the foundations of St. An- 
drew's parish, which was and is destined to be an 
ever increasing and uplifting influence. 

The Queen gave a Royal Charter to St. Andrew's 
Church on Staten Island in 1713, five years after she 
had closed out to Major Symes all of her property in- 
terests on the Island. The Church was to pay her 
annually at the New York Custom House, "one pep- 
per corn and two shillings and six pence." It was 
purely a nominal quit rent under the Royal charter for 
a Church of England parish. Major Symes was to 
pay ten shillings as a quit rent for the conveyance 
of the Queen's lands on Staten Island to him and to 
his heirs and assigns forever. 

Promptly following the founding of St. Andrew's 
Church in seventeen hundred and eight, the work of 
Church construction was commenced and carried for- 
ward by the friends and supporters of the undertak- 
ing. The first St. Andrew's Church building was 



42 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

completed in seventeen hundred and eleven. On the 
twenty-fifth day of July, of that same year, (1711) 
Major Symes executed and delivered a deed to the 
St. Andrew's Church Corporation, conveying to it 
one hundred and thirty-three (133) acres of land on 
Staten Island "in trust and for the use of the Church 
of England." 

The deed given by Major Symes expressly provides 
that the 133 acre tract should be held "in trust and 
for the use of the Church of England." He con- 
veyed by the same deed to the same Church an ad- 
ditional twenty-six (26) acres of land which under 
the terms of the deed the St. Andrew's Church Cor- 
poration was privileged to exchange for other land if 
it so desired. Under this deed Major Symes pre- 
sented to the Parish a large tract for its Church and 
parish purposes together with a substantial acreage 
for glebe lands. The one deed for these two tracts of | 

property was withheld from record by the St. An- ' 

drew's Church Corporation until seventeen hundred 
and eighteen. It was put to record in 1718, probably 
prompted thereto by the recording that year of the 
documents relating to the bequest to St. Andrew's 
Church of an additional 200 acres located in Castle- 
ton and bequeathed to it by Ellis Duxbury. 

The Church building, furnishings and lands were 
formally presented by Queen Anne "as head of the 
realm and church" to the parish in seventeen hundred 
and thirteen which is the date inscribed upon the tab- 
let now on the inner wall of St. Andrew's Church on 
Staten Island. This tablet is reproduced herein. It 
will be observed that it recites that the Church with 
valuable glebe lands, a Church bell, together with a 
silver Communion Set, were presented to the Parish 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 43 

by the good Queen Anne, the head of the realm. Is 
this an error in tradition as to the glebe lands or did 
the generous heart of Major Symes in deep apprecia- 
tion for the notable gifts of the Queen to Trinity 
Church, of which Major Symes was a vestryman, her 
generous benefaction to Major Symes in presenting to 
him her extensive land ownerships on Staten Island 
together with other grants made by the Queen to him 
cause him to permit the presentation of the deeds of 
the lands to St. Andrew's Church to be made in her 



name 



It would appear from this tablet that the presenta- 
tion was so made though the lands (excepting about 
Yz acre) were given by Major Symes. The Queen 
presented a highly prized Church bell, a very beauti- 
ful silver Communion Sei*vice, a prayer book and a 
pulpit cover adorned with her name, all of which she 
had forwarded to the Church from London but Major 
Lancaster Symes presented the land (excepting the 
Yz acre) as Staten Island official records fully dis- 
close. 

In seventeen hundred and thirteen, the Queen was 
not an owner of a foot of land on Staten Island and 
could not have presented the St. Andrew's Church 
site and the glebe lands to the St. Andrew's Church 
Corporation without a prior purchase by her of the 
lands in question, which purchase she did not make. 

St. Andrew's Church as originally erected was a 
very handsome stone structure. Seven thousand 
pounds (£7,000) sterling were contributed by the pub- 
lic towards the expense of construction and furnish- 
ings. The lime, stone and timber required in the edi- 
fice, and also in the erection of a very comfortable 
rectory, were subscribed and delivered by members 



44 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

of the community and settlers in New Jersey and 
Pennsylvania, which gifts, combined with the money 
mentioned and the land gratuitously deeded, made St. 
Andrew's corporation the owner of a very attractive, 
appropriate and complete Church property. 

The deed from Major Symes to St. Andrew's 
Church for lands on Staten Island was dated July 
twenty-fifth, seventeen hundred and eleven. William 
Tillyer and Mary, his wife, gave a deed to St. An- 
drew's Church dated August the sixth, seventeen 
hundred and eleven. The Tillyer plot of land was of 
a very small area (about 3^ acre) and was according 
to one theory probably conveyed to adjust the boun- 
dary lines or to make more symmetrical the plot con- 
veyed by Major Symes for the Church site. 

Another theory, however, may be advanced which 
appears readily demonstrable from the facts before 
us. It is a fully accepted historical fact that Major 
Symes deeded to St. Andrew's Church two tracts of 
land hereinbefore referred to involving a total gift 
by him to that Church of 159 acres. 

The map of Crown grants clearly, shows that Major 
Symes owned the land South and West of the land 
granted by the Crown of England to William Tillyer 
on November 2nd, 1696. The Old Mill Road is now 
the Northern line of the St. Andrew's Church site 
property. It would appear that this Road was orig- 
inally opened a few feet North of and parallel to 
the South line of the Tillyer land, thereby leaving a 
small piece of Tillyer's land on the South side of the 
Old Mill Road, of approximately half an acre. This 
strip of land constitutes a small plot at the South- 
West corner of the intersection of the Richmond Hill 




. SITE OF OLD FORT SCHUYLER, UTICA, N. Y 

This Cannon and Flag Pole mark the site of the old fort at Utica, named 
after Col. Peter Schuyler, of Albany, N. Y. 

He was called by the Indians their "Beloved Brother Quider." 

"Beloved, because they loved him." 

'^^Rrother, as a stronger expression of their love." 

"Quider, because that was as near as the Indians could come to pronouncing 
the name, Peter. 

It was to the rescue of this Col. Peter Schuyler that Maj. Lancaster Symes 
hastened during the Mohawk Valley Campaign against the French. 
He arrived at a very opportune moment." 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 45 

Road and the Old Mill Road and was between the 
Symes land and the highway. It was on this site 
that the St. Andrew's Church Corporation desired to 
and did subsequently build St. Andrew's Church and 
locate its graveyard. In order that the St. Andrew's 
Church Corporation might avail itself of this valued 
site it was desirable that this small plot belonging 
to the Tillyers should be conveyed to the Church. 

A few days subsequent to the gift by Major Symes, 
of the two large tracts of land to the Church and 
probably inspired by that gift, William Tillyer and 
his wife conveyed to St. Andrew's Church the small 
piece of land which lay on the South side of the 
Road. It is therefore perfectly reasonable to deduce 
the conclusion that St. Andrew's Church stands and 
its graveyard is now located on lands formerly owned 
by Major Lancaster Symes excepting only the small 
plot of about half an acre acquired by it from William 
Tillyer and his wife. By this conveyance from the 
Tillyers the Church is located at the junction of the 
Old Mill Road, the Richmond Hill Road and the Fresh 
Kills Road. 

While no official statement is made regarding this 
matter by the Title Company now owning the Symes 
lands the foregoing is deemed by it to be a consistent 
explanation. 

It appears that in some way, probably because of the 
lapse of time and the many changes in official admin- 
istration of the affairs of St. Andrew's Church, 
one plot of twenty-six (26) acres of land originally 
conveyed to it by Major Symes has been to a de- 
gree lost to sight. If this be true, it is more than pos- 
sible, in fact it is quite probable that its re-discovery 



46 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

will soon be made and will disclose very substantial 
values now unconsciously owned by the Church. 

The present owner of the Symes interests on Staten 
Island is in complete sympathy with and recognizes 
the original intent on the part of Major Symes to 
endow St. Andrew's Church by this gift of lands. 
From the information in its possession it believes that 
it is in a position and if necessary it is quite disposed 
to protect and defend the said Church in a quiet and 
peaceable possession of all of the property now occu- 
pied by it as its Church site. It further believes that 
it may even yet be able to disclose to St. Andrew's 
Church the location of the twenty-six (26) acre tract 
of which the present site of the Church may or may 
not be a part according as the proofs may develop 
from its records. In either event the present owner 
considers itself charged with the moral responsibility 
of co-operating with the proper parties so that the 
endowment made by the original head of the Symes 
Estate shall not be in any degree defeated. The re- 
sources at its command will be freely used if re- 
quired to sustain St. Andrew's Church in the re-dis- 
covery of any lost lands and in the peaceable posses- 
sion and enjoyment thereof. 

The fact that the Major Symes' deed to St. An- 
drew's Church was not recorded until seventeen hun- 
dred and eighteen has given rise to an erroneous tra- 
dition. It was evidently taken for granted by the 
casual observer that the Symes gift of land was made 
in seventeen hundred and eighteen, the date of public 
record, instead of on July twenty-fifth, seventeen hun- 
dred and eleven, the date of its delivery. The Symes 
deed was the first deed given to St. Andrew's Church. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 47 

The day will come and we trust not long hence 
when a broad avenue, a public park or far better yet 
an additional endowment will be made to St. An- 
drew's Church and the same will be dedicated to the 
honor and in the memory of Major Lancaster Symes, 
the largest land owner, one of the noblest characters 
as well as one of the greatest benefactors ever identi- 
fied with and interested in the moral development of 
Staten Island. 

It is important to note the details of the Symes deed 
to St. Andrew's Church. It was executed and deliv- 
ered on the twenty-fifth day of July, seventeen hun- 
dred and eleven. Major Lancaster Symes made the 
deed for two (2) pieces of property on Staten Island, 
he thereby conveying both pieces to the St. Andrew's 
Church Corporation. One plot so conveyed was for 
one hundred and thirty-three (133) acres, "for the 
use of the Church of England," the other was for 
twenty-six acres, the same deed consenting that 
the twenty-six acres might be "exchanged" for other 
lands if the Church authorities desired. 

That Major Symes took personal and formal pos- 
session of his property on Staten Island is beyond 
successful challenge. 

It is clearly shown of record that Major Symes 
upon the execution of the said deed and its delivery 
was personally at the property near Richmond. This 
is confirmed by proof from official English sources. 
He was accompanied by his attorney and counsellor, 
Adolphus Phillips, and was likewise accompanied by 
Captain Ebenezer Wilson, a vestryman of Trinity 
Church, and Peter Faulconer, two business friends of 
Lancaster Symes and who were at that time mer- 



48 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

chants of considerable prominence in New York City. 
Their names appear in other records of his transac- 
tions as well as in connection with important events 
in the history of New York City relating to that pe- 
riod. The two pieces of property referred to were at 
the time of their conveyance personally selected by 
Major Lancaster Symes from the lands granted to 
him three years previously by the English Crown. 
They consisted of two separate and distinct pieces of 
property. The single deed for both properties was 
drawn by his counsellor, Adolphus Phillips. 

St. Andrew's Church which had not then actually 
received its official charter from the Crown, was a 
local organization. Its vestrymen and others con- 
nected with it resided in and about Richmond and in 
the neighborhood of the properties so conveyed by 
Major Symes to St. Andrew's Church. They, as 
neighbors, residing in close proximity to the lands In- 
volved, accepted both properties with a personal knowl- 
edge of their respective locations and of surround- 
ing circumstances and knowing of Major Symes' own- 
ership thereof. That it might appear for all time as 
a proper and correct transfer of properties duly owned 
and possessed by Major Symes, the counsellor Adol- 
phus Phillips signed the deed with Major Symes as 
did likewise the two merchants, Capt. Ebenezer Wil- 
son and Peter Faulconer. The deed therefore stood 
as a proper conveyance, from the Major, certified to 
by his attorney and counsellor-at-law, with the added 
assurance and responsibility affixed thereto of two 
prominent merchants then in active business in the 
Colony. 

The special clause in the deed permitting the "ex- 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 49 

change" by St. Andrew's Church of the twenty-six 
(26) acre plot of land, clearly establishes the fact that 
Major Symes fully understood what land he owned, 
as well as what land he did not own. It is likewise 
clear that St. Andrew's Church Corporation, which 
was composed of local parties, must also have fully 
known that the particular twenty-six (26) acre tract 
of land so conveyed to St. Andrew's Church was 
owiied by Major Symes. It also implies that there 
was another tract of land nearby which did not belong 
to Major Syines but which might be more desirable 
for St. Andrew's Church purposes and for which the 
said Symes tract of twenty-six (26) acres might be 
"exchanged." Did William Tillyer, inspired by Ma- 
jor Symes' generosity, also make a gift of his 3^ acre 
to St. Andrew's Church? 

It is thought by some that St. Andrew's Church 
acted upon the privilege given to it by Major Symes 
in his deed and did dispose of the twenty-six (26) 
acre piece. If this be true then it is but an additional 
proof that the St. Andrew's Church Corporation at 
that time knew the title to be good in Major Symes 
and fully understood all of the facts of ownership or 
else it never would have made its conveyance and at- 
tached its corporate signature thereto. If that was 
done, where is the official record of that conveyance 
from St. Andrew's Church? If that was not done, 
where are the 26 acres of land? 

The St. Andrew's Church Corporation's knowledge 
and participation in the transactions with Major 
Symes is a conclusive proof of the bona fides of the 
whole transaction. The conclusive elements involved 



50 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

in this transaction alone without reciting other proof, 
are — 

First, the act of taking possession of the lands by 
Major Symes and. 

Second, the exercise by him and St. Andrew's 
Church of the highest prerogatives of ownership, that 
is, 

(A) The segregation of a portion of his lands and, 

(B) The sale thereof by proper deed of convey- 
ance to St. Andrew's Church. 

(C) St. Andrew's Church relations thereto and par- 
ticipation therein. 

The plain provisions, conditions and limitations con- 
tained in the Major Symes' deed indicate that all of 
the parties to this transaction fully understood ; First, 
what lands the Major did own; and Second, what 
lands in close proximity thereto the Major did not 
own. To such a conclusion and as proof of such 
knowledge the record shows the pledged responsibil- 
ity and good faith, on the St. Andrew's Church deed 
not only of Major Symes, whose then high standing 
in the community is now established beyond cavil, but 
also the certificate of a counsellor-at-law, having a 
commission from the Crown. Added thereto was the 
pledged responsibility of two prominent merchants 
whose estates were then large and whose financial and 
moral responsibility was beyond question. The ap- 
proval and acceptance of the transaction by St. An- 
drew's Church Corporation is in itself a sufficient es- 
toppel of adverse criticism. 

From that time until the present, the Symes Title 
has been maintained and actively asserted on Staten 
Island. Not a generation has since passed, in which 
active transactions have not been recorded on the pub- 




A WITCH CATCHER. 

A Wild and Wayward Young Negro Woman Pointing Out the "Witches" 
ON Manhattan Island. 

This craze spread to Staten Island, where "Witches" were punished at the 
Whipping Post. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 51 

lie records, thereby keeping alive the records relat- 
ing to these titles and keeping the public fully ad- 
vised. 

Major Lancaster Symes was married in the latter 
part of seventeen hundred and eleven or in the early 
part of seventeen hundred and twelve, to Catherine, 
the widow of James Larkin. It is an interesting fact 
that his son Lancaster married a daughter of Rev- 
erend Johannas Lydius, a prominent clergyman of 
the Reformed Dutch Church in Albany. 

His granddaughter, Catherine Symes, became the 
worthy wife of that eminent, highly respected and 
much beloved Assistant Minister of Trinity Church, 
Reverend John Ogilvy, whose sudden and pathetic 
death occurred from a stroke of apoplexy which at- 
tacked him at the close of the announcement of his 
text. His ministry was one of great power and in- 
fluence. 

While Queen Anne's reign appears from this record 
to have been very religious it was also considerably 
hilarious. In many ways it was very superstitious and 
its Court and Councils were scenes of constant politi- 
cal intrigue. It is not therefore strange that the un- 
tutored Indians were intolerant at a period when 
witches were burned by Christians and the slave mart 
also flourished in the City of New York ! Some of 
the excesses of the natives may be counterbalanced 
by the municipality of the City of New York paying 
the bills for "the barrels of beer consumed when the 
parson ordained the deacon." 

We read of devils rocking the beds on Staten Island, 
headless men strolling along its highways, angels sup- 
ported on luminous clouds and carpenters' tools walk- 
ing up and down its stairways. It is said that a Co- 



52 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

lonial ghost made night hideous by prowling about 
under the trees along one of the brooks on Staten 
Island. All this indicates as much unscientific and 
inaccurate thinking in the earlier days of New York 
as in the Colony of Massachusetts. 

The situation as to land titles on Staten Island 
and the descent of the same from the complete, con- 
clusive title-in-fee held and owned by the English 
Crown has been for many years one of chaos and 
confusion arising from a strange misunderstanding of 
the facts and the absence or suppression of much 
knowledge on the subject. This situation apparently 
developed from a lack of access on the part of vari- 
ous individual counsel to vitally important data show- 
ing the proper and correct location of the original 
grants made by the English Crown to lands on Staten 
Island or the suppression of such information for sin- 
ister reasons. The Crown of England made many 
grants to lands on Staten Island prior to the twenty- 
seventh day of October seventeen hundred and eight, 
covering somewhat more than one half (^) of the 
Island. 

On that day as hereinbefore recited, her Majesty, 
Queen Anne, made and issued to Major Lancaster 
Symes and his heirs and assigns forever a Royal 
Grant covering all of the vacant and unappropriated 
lands, meadows, woods, underwoods, minerals, lakes, 
lakelets, rivers and rivulets, waters, marshes, ponds 
and water courses in, on and about Staten Island not 
previously granted to other persons. The question of 
indefiniteness and uncertainty as to this grant to 
Major Lancaster Symes cannot now be in anywise 
successfully set up or pleaded, for the same has been 
conclusively established by good and sufficient proof. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 53 

It has been a fully recognized fact that a vast area 
of land, together with very extended shore fronts on 
Staten Island, were comprehended in the said Lan- 
caster Symes grant. It was plainly the intent on the 
part of the Crown to so grant the said lands to Major 
Lancaster Symes. Such a Royal grant was made as 
is shown of record. The consideration was ample, 
and the description is complete. The Crown grants 
made prior to the Major Symes Grant, clearly indi- 
cate that such grants were made with the general to- 
pography and area of the said Island known and un- 
derstood by the Crown solicitors. When the said 
grant was made to Major Lancaster Symes the Crown 
fully understood what it had already granted and 
fully comprehended what remaining lands and other 
values were included in this final grant to Major Lan- 
caster Symes. No sane man would charge the Eng- 
lish Crown with issuing Grants containing full legal 
terms and proper surveyors' descriptions when there 
was no knowledge of definite facts possessed by it to 
support the same. No charge of insanity or crimi- 
nality would for a moment stand at the bar of history, 
indicting her Majesty the good Queen Anne, or Ma- 
jor Symes as conspirators in such arrant and reckless 
folly. 

No representative member of the New York Bar 
has ever challenged the bona Udes of the inception 
and original issue of this grant to Major Lancaster 
Symes. No legal or real estate authority, conversant 
with the facts, has ever traversed a vested record title 
in the Symes heirs or their successors in title. The 
Lancaster Symes grant as stated, originally compre- 
hended substantially one half (^) of the area of 
Staten Island. If it is true that over one hundred and 



54 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

fifty (150) grants covering all of the lands on Staten 
Island not granted to Major Lancaster Symes and 
comprehending one half (^) of the area of the said 
Island are subject to confusion and uncertainty as 
to precise location; if it is true that the blanket grant 
for all of the remaining lands on the Island which was 
issued by the Crown to Major Lancaster Symes is sub- 
ject to similar uncertainty; and if it is true that be- 
cause of such a condition a large proportion of the 
titles to lands now occupied on Staten Island are 
more or less subject to a cloud that is injurious to 
the marketability of such properties, then such a con- 
dition is a public calamity! Such a situation, if true, 
threatens the quiet and peaceable possession thereof by 
many present and future innocent parties claiming and 
believing that they have good title thereto. Such a 
condition is not relieved by any policy of title insur- 
ance if such a policy carries an "Exception" which 
may release the title insurance company issuing the 
same from protecting the insured against the actual 
and true owner. 

It would be unfortunate to allow such a condition 
to continue. It would menace supposed owners, dis- 
quiet actual owners and would impede the proper and 
natural development of one of the most desirable and 
delightful residential boroughs in the city of New 
York. As time passes it becomes more difficult to 
remedy such a condition. It not only becomes ex- 
tremely difficult and vexatious but also a fertile source 
of almost endless litigation. 

Such a state of facts is alleged by various Title 
Companies to exist on Staten Island. This position 
is also taken by eminent representatives of the Bar. 
That there is good reason for such apprehension is 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 55 

evident from the fact that many poHcies of title in- 
surance, issued by leading and most conservative title 
companies covering land titles on Staten Island are 
said to contain in the "Exceptions" listed on the back 
of the said policies, clauses specially releasing such 
Title Companies from liability as against the Lancas- 
ter Symes Grant. In some cases this exception is 
cloaked in very obscure but none the less effective lan- 
guage. 

A very prominent Title Company has in the public 
prints openly expressed the uneasiness caused by the 
existence of the Lancaster Symes land grant and its 
possible bearing upon lands being now sold or pos- 
sessed on Staten Island. Such an attitude clearly in- 
dicates that uncertainty does prevail as to the loca- 
tion of the boundary lines of many if not all of the 
old grants. That Title Company referred to the 
Crown Grant to Major Lancaster Symes as "a Night- 
mare". That nightmare can now be and should have 
been long since dispelled by accurate legal descriptions 
and scientific precision in surveys, in justice to all and 
by methods that are consistent and approved by pub- 
lic conscience. Nightmares are hideous dreams ! 
They generally originate from feeding on the indi- 
gestible and the victims should be rescued there- 
from. 

The title insurance companies of New York City 
have been to a very large expense and have devoted 
diligent efforts in collecting and organizing definite 
information relating to titles on Staten Island. The 
records show that the Symes heirs, their successors 
in title, together with others working in like interests 
including the American Title and Trust Company of 
Wilmington, Delaware, have expended over two hun- 



56 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

dred and sixty thousand dollars ($260,000) and a 
vast amount of research work in efforts to establish 
beyond question the correct title record of all lands 
on Staten Island owned by the Symes interests. 

This investigation has involved the descent of title 
and the mapping of every original grant issued on 
the said Island, together with the clear defining of the 
original rights of all such grantees in and to the lands 
on Staten Island originally granted by the English 
Crown. 

The establishment of these basic facts Is of ines- 
timable importance to every property holder as well 
as to every public spirited citizen in the borough of 
Richmond, which borough comprehends Staten Island. 
It is important to all citizens interested in the devel- 
opment of Greater New York and the security in and 
to property rights therein that every property holder's 
rights should be properly safeguarded. 

The American Title and Trust Company, of Wil- 
mington, Delaware, now has available, for the proper 
use and benefit of the public, an abundance of proof 
to quiet and put at rest all reasonable doubt as to the 
extent and precise location of each and every original 
grant to lands on Staten Island. It also possesses 
an early official Colonial map of Staten Island made 
by the Government from official surveys and drawn 
to scale. The existence of this duly authenticated 
certified official map has been apparently entirely lost 
sight of. These proofs now flood with light a situa- 
tion that has up to the present time been supposed by 
many to be as dark as midnight. 

There is an enormous amount of original, genuine, 
and well preserved documentary proof of facts and 
conditions in Colonial history that has never been 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 57 

made available to modem historians. This is espe- 
cially true as relating to the period between the dis- 
covery of America and the close of the Revolutionary 
War, and up to the war of eighteen hundred and 
twelve. The wealth of historic information that re- 
mains in private ownership and that has never been 
collected, exposed and placed in view for the benefit 
of the public is sufficient to cause a radical revision 
of many historical libraries. 

Special representatives of large and important prop- 
erty holders in New York City were within the past 
few years expressly sent to London and for months 
were in direct communication and conference with the 
English Government seeking a solution of the vexed 
question of titles to lands on Staten Island, but to no 
avail. A very prominent member of the New York 
Bar who was profoundly interested in the subject of 
Staten Island titles and who was not satisfied with 
the several prior failures to secure information from 
the British land office, made a personal trip to Lon- 
don and there with the benefit of the highest creden- 
tials devoted a large amount of time in a similar ef- 
fort but with like futile results. 

It has been the good fortune, however, of the 
American Title and Trust Company to secure after a 
lengthy, expensive and skilled research the long and 
expensively sought for evidence. It is now in a posi- 
tion of exceptional knowledge as to the original grant 
or grants underlying each and every piece of land 
on Staten Island. It is able to show the location and 
dimensions of every such original Grant as made by 
the English Crown. What is also of vast interest and 
great value, it possesses, as previously stated herein, 
the copy of an early comprehensive and official sur- 



58 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

vey of the said Island, the existence of which is ap- 
parently unknown to the present authorities and other 
title companies. This map was apparently lost in the 
multiplicity of records and documents. It is now held 
by the American Title and Trust Company, authen- 
ticated in a manner that cannot be successfully con- 
troverted and is conclusive upon its very face. 

The American Title and Trust Company therefore 
now holds in its possession a proper and correct solu- 
tion of the problem of original land titles on Staten 
Island. It may be that to a certain extent the infor- 
mation it possesses may unfavorably af¥ect some ti- 
tles heretofore issued without any supposed flaw, 
while at the same time it may perfect titles now 
known to be defective. The American Title and Trust 
Company desires that any and all re-adjustments, 
which should and must eventually be made because of 
these final discoveries shall be made promptly and 
with the least possible disturbance and injury to pres- 
ent residents in good faith on Staten Island. 

In order that equity and not greed should solve this 
problem, the American Title and Trust Company pro- 
ceeded to the purchase of all of the rights, titles and 
interests of each and every owner in and to the Symes 
grant to lands and rights on Staten Island. It, at the 
same time, proceeded to acquire the above mentioned 
information relating to the early titles on Staten 
Island. It will seek by every proper and equitable 
means of co-operation with responsible title companies 
and parties claiming in good faith to own properties 
on Staten Island, to develop a policy and to pursue a 
plan of establishing titles on the Island in as fair and 
consistent a manner as circumstances will possibly 
admit. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 59 

This Symes grant descends to its present owners 
who are charged with the knowledge of the lofty prin- 
ciples that governed its issue, the high character of 
the one who received and transmitted it and to a com- 
pany that has adopted as its platform, "Integrity of 
Purpose, Fidelity to Trust and Equity in Practice." 



ADDITIONAL FACTS RELATING TO MAJOR 
LANCASTER SYMES' LAND GRANT. 

There was nothing unusual or exceptional about the 
Crown Grant, which was made to Major Lancaster 
Symes of the English Army, who was very promi- 
nent in American Colonial affairs and a resident of 
the province of New York. The Blenheim Estate 
in England now contains one of the most costly and 
magnificent palaces in the world. It was granted to 
the Duke of Blenheim about two years previous to 
the Lancaster Symes land grant and for services ren- 
dered to the Crown of England at the battle of Blen- 
heim, on the continent of Europe. A quit rent under 
the said grant was the delivery of an English flag as 
a tribute each year by the Duke of Blenheim to the 
Crown of England. One flag is even yet sent annu- 
ally to Windsor Castle by the descendants of the orig- 
inal Duke of Blenheim. It is said that the Lipton Es- 
tates in England are held under an old Grant, one of 
the quit rent conditions being that when the King of 
England requires fagots to burn heretics Lord Lip- 
ton shall furnish them to the King from the Lipton 
Estate. 

It is perfectly consistent that Major Symes should 
have received a grant for valorous services in the 
army and for valuable services to the Crown and to 
the Established Church. Major Symes' name appears 
in the Colonial records as a man of public affairs and 
of other large property interests as shown in the case 

60 




POSTING NOTICE. 

A Public Officer Posting on the Door of St. Andrew's Church the Order 

FOR Official Survey of Major Symes' Lands on Staten Island. 

This order commanded the authorities to make the survey pursuant to a 
mandate of the Council confirmed by the Governor General. 

It warned the public against any interference therewith. It also directed 
the sheriffs and other public officers to complete the survey with dispatch. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 6i 

of the settlement of the boundary line between the 
provinces of New York and New Jersey where he ap- 
pears as a holder of large properties other than on 
Staten Island. So also in matters relating to West- 
chester County, Orange County and the country in 
and about Albany, New York, and as set forth in the 
condensed Biographical Record of his life which is 
appended hereto. 

The grant to Major Lancaster Symes was confirmed 
by the province of New York and his successors in 
title became the unquestioned, undisputed and fully 
recognized owner of the lands so granted to him on 
Staten Island of which he originally took possession 
as fully and completely as one man can take posses- 
sion of such an extensive and diversified tract. He 
took actual personal possession of his Staten Island 
property and exercised every prerogative of owner- 
ship. His adjustment of property matters with an- 
other grantee on the said Island, his conveyance of the 
two pieces of land to St. Andrew's Church at Rich- 
mond as elsewhere herein more fully set forth and the 
conveyance, by his heirs, of lands under water for the 
Mersereau ferry several miles distant from Richmond, 
clearly exhibit his extended upland estate and his ac- 
tive control and ownership of water rights and his rights 
to lands under water. His supplying the British Army 
with bacon, and flax from his estate, his supplying the 
fire-wood for the garrison and fort of New York for 
several years, together with a joint certificate by sev- 
eral of his Staten Island neighbors, evidences his pos- 
session of his property and his utilization of his lands 
for commercial purposes. Official documents prove 
his actual personal presence on and possession of his 
lands on Staten Island. At one time it was officially 



62 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

reported that "through the connivance of pubhc offi- 
cials" in the Province, certain impoverished people 
had been allowed to settle on lands belonging to Ma- 
jor Symes on Staten Island and that they were sub- 
ject to ejectment which was proceeded with. 

In the year seventeen hundred and twenty-two, 
Major Lancaster Symes obtained from the Colonial 
Government, as is fully shown on the public records, a 
warrant of survey for the defining and locating by 
the public authorities of the boundary lines of his 
lands on Staten Island. 

To obtain such a survey, Major Lancaster Symes 
made a proper application for same, according to the 
law. Official notice of such application was duly 
posted by the authorities, for several weeks, on the 
door of St. Andrew's Church, on Staten Island, as 
provided for by statute. The notice set forth that 
such application for a survey had been made by Major 
Lancaster Symes according to law and the said proc- 
lamation gave public notice that if there were any 
objections to such a survey being made by the au- 
thorities for the location of the boundaries of the 
Symes grant, such objections should be filed with the 
authorities within a certain period prescribed in the 
said notice. 

Pursuant to the privilege allowed under the said 
posted notice, objections to the making of the said 
survey were filed, as the project was a large and ex- 
pensive one. The protests were considered in coun- 
cil and the public record shows that such objections 
were declared by another official proclamation to be 
"inadequate and insufficient" and a survey was or- 
dered by proclamation to be made by the proper 
authorities for the locating of the said Symes lands. 




Governor Doncan's Mansion, New York City. 
It was leased for 14 years by Major Lancaster Symes for his city residence. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 63 

All officials and citizens were duly ordered in the 
said proclamation to aid and assist the said survey 
and not to obstruct or interfere with the same at their 
peril. A warrant for such a survey was issued on the 
twenty- fourth day of December, seventeen hundred 
and twenty-two, by Governor-general Burnet to Cad- 
wallader Golden, the Golonial surveyor of the Prov- 
ince of New York. 

Following this incident Major Symes was restored 
to his command at the cessation of the religious con- 
troversy that had disrupted the Golonial administra- 
tion of public affairs and he re-entered active military 
life by becoming lieutenant of the independent com- 
panies stationed in New York, commanded by Gaptain 
Weims. This officer dying. Governor Burnet, in sev- 
enteen hundred and twenty-three, bestowed upon Ma- 
jor Symes the captaincy of the company of fusi- 
leers. Major Symes immediately embarked for Eng- 
land in order to have his appointment confirmed. In 
November following he returned with his commission 
to New York Gity where he took up his headquarters, 
having young George Ingoldesby, his nephew, as his 
first lieutenant. 

On September nineteenth, seventeen hundred and 
nineteen. Major Symes was appointed Ranger for 
Orange Gounty. Major Symes represented the 
Gounty of Orange in the Assembly at Albany from 
September twenty-second, seventeen hundred and 
twenty-six, to the time of his death which occurred 
in the latter part of INIarch or the early part of April, 
seventeen hundred and twenty-nine. The record 
shows that at his death he was Major Lancaster Symes 
of the British Army. He is spoken of in various 
documents and referred to in public papers at various 



64 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

dates as Lieutenant, Captain and Major. Official 
records, however, dearly establish the fact that he was 
a Major in the British service, highly regarded and 
true to his highest ideals. 

As previously stated, Major Symes married Cathe- 
rine, the widow of James Larkin. She was about 
twenty-two years of age, at the time of their marriage. 
They had four children, from whom and through 
whom the descent of title to the Staten Island prop- 
erty has been fully and completely traced. 

Major Symes in addition to his Staten Island and 
other country estates, had a fine vineyard on the 
Island of Manhattan, a short distance East of the 
present City Hall Park. He also for a long time, 
leased as his town residence the mansion owned by 
Governor Dongan on the Island of Manhattan, who, 
it appears was at times under considerable pecuniary 
obligations to Major Symes. The Major also owned 
property on Wall Street in New York City. 

Upon the decease of Major Symes in Albany, the 
following information was sent in a letter written by 
Governor Montgomerie on April second, seventeen 
hundred and twenty-nine, to the Duke of Newcastle, 
"I take this opportunity of a ship going to Bristol to 
acquaint your Grace that Major Symes, Captain of 
one of the companies here, is dead. The company 
being now at Albany I have ordered Lieutenant Nich- 
ols to command it." 



LET HIS NAME BE HONORED AND HIS RIGHTS 
PRESERVED. 



PROPOSITIONS OF LAW 

RELATING TO 

CROWN GRANTS OF LAND. 

AS every acre of Land on Staten Island bases its 
title on an English Crown Grant, the following propo- 
sitions of Law will be of interest to every property 
holder on Staten Island. 

In England land under water may be granted by 
the Crown. In England, at Common Law, the fee 
in lands under water, all lands covered by navigable 
water, that is water in which the tide ebbed and 
flowed, was in the Sovereign ''King or Queen), and 
descended with the Crown. 

A Grant is an act evidenced by Letters-Patent un- 
der the great seal granting something from the King 
or Queen to a subject. 

The obligations of a contract consist in its binding 
force on the party who makes it. This depends on 
the laws existing when it zvas made. 

In the acquisition of territory from another coun- 
try the United States does not acquire title to lands 
under water which have been previously granted to 
other parties by the former government. 

No title to the soil under navigable waters was con- 
ferred by the constitution upon the federal govern- 

6S 



66 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

ment so far as the original states were concerned, but 
the title remained in the respective States. 

It is a well established principle of International law 
that the inhabitants of a country are protected in their 
property rights notwithstanding a change of sov- 
ereignty. 

The principle in respect to incomplete titles is that 
if a claim was such as would have bound the Con- 
science of the former sovereign to perfect the title 
and furnish the Evidence necessary to support and 
maintain it, the United States Government having ac- 
quired the territory would take it charged with the 
duty of carrying out in good faith the obligation of 
the previous government existing at the time of the 
cession. 

The constitution refers to and preserves the legal 
not the moral obli stations of a contract. 



'fe' 



A legislative grant, being an executed contract, is 
within the constitutional prohibition. 

Courts of law in the State of New York will look 
only to titles under patents from the State or the for- 
mer Colonial government of the Province of New 
York when the same are based upon an English 
Crown Grant. 

The right of eminent domain may be exercised by 
the State but in such case adequate compensation must 
be made. 

The acts of Congress generally require a survey of 
the land by officers of the United States Land Office 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 67 

as an essential step in the completion of title to lands 
claimed under Grants from former sovereignties. 

A complete title under a former government might 
be successfully asserted against a claimant under the 
United States. Conditional warrants of land by the 
former Government have been invariably respected 
where there has been a bona fide attempt to perform 
the conditions and a partial performance may suffice 
where complete performance has been incomplete by 
causes beyond the control of the Grantee. 

A Right under a former sovereignty to a specific 
quantity of land in an area of a larger extent con- 
stituted an equitable title and a property in the land 
and until the Grantees' possession was restricted by a 
segregation and location of the quantity granted he 
was entitled to possession of all the land within the 
general description of the grant as against third per- 
sons or persons claiming under the pre-emption laws 
of the United States. The Grantees might maintain 
ejectment before survey. 

The location of a valid grant confirmed by the De- 
partmental Assembly could not in any wise be affected 
by the circumstances that without any notice to the 
Grantee his grant was treated as forfeited and a part 
of the land embraced within the area of a tract was 
granted to another. 

A variation in a survey of two or three miles over 
what may subsequently be determined to be the exact 
line of the littoral and border lines will not defeat 
titles acquired thereby, if when issued they were sup- 



68 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

posed to be in conformity to the line and were not 
located in wanton disregard of the laws restricting 
titles in the territory embraced by the line. 

Where a grant was made subject to conditions a 
compliance therewith was necessary to vest a com- 
plete legal title in the Grantee. A failure to comply 
therewith invalidated the Grant and the Government 
could grant the land anew. 

A claim which was abandoned prior to the treaty 
of cession is not entitled to confirmation and a Grantee 
under a former sovereignty who has failed for a num- 
ber of years to take possession of the land or to do 
any act showing an intention to comply with the con- 
ditions of the grant, must be presumed to have aban- 
doned the grant as must also one who after taking 
possession for years and commencing compliance with 
the conditions has left the property and remained 
away and made no effort to fulfill the conditions for 
many years. 

A statute confirming claims does not include claims 
previously abandoned. 

Where a grant was annulled by the ceding sov- 
ereignty, while the land remained under its jurisdic- 
tion, a deed from a grantee to an American citizen con- 
veyed no title. 

Where water is navigable, whether or not within the 
ebb and flow of the tide, the public have a common 
right to use it for navigation as a public highway. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 69 

Long continued and uninterrupted use of a stream 
by the public for purposes of navigation constitutes 
it a public highway. 

What constitutes reasonable use of a navigable 
stream depends upon the circumstances in each par- 
ticular case. Regard must be had to the subject of 
the use, the occasion, and manner of its application, 
its object, extent, necessity, and duration. 

No right except passage exists in the public above 
low water where the riparian owner owns to the loiv 
water mark. 

An owner of upland has no right to trespass on 
the land of another for the purpose of reaching the 
navigable waters beyond. 

Where the ownership in fee of that half of the 
street next to the river remains in the grantee he is 
the riparian proprietor. 

A State has no more power to impair an obligation 
into which she herself has entered than she has to im- 
pair the contract of individuals. 

All questions arising out of the grants and interests 
in real property derived from the Crown of England 
must be construed and determined by the laws of Eng- 
land as they existed prior to the American Revolution. 

It has been judicially determined that "the Dutch 
surrendered New Amsterdam to Colonel Nicolls who 
with an armed force asserted the right and authority 
of the Duke of York and the Crown of England. 



yo THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

The common law of England entered the City with 
him." 

The Constitution of the State of New York adopted 
in seventeen hundred and seventy-seven, declared "that 
such parts of the common law of England and the 
Statute laws of Great Britain as together did form 
the laws of the Colony on the nineteenth day of April, 
seventeen hundred and seventy-five, should be and 
continue the laws of this State." 

The Constitution of the State of New York adopted 
in eighteen hundred and twenty-one, after declaring 
null and void all grants in the State made by the 
Crown of England after the fourteenth day of 
October seventeen hundred and seventy-five, provides, 
"but nothing contained in this Constitution shall af- 
fect any grants of land within this State made by the 
authority of the said King and his predecessors . . . 
before that day. Or shall affect any such grants . . . 
or any other suits, actions, rights of action or other 
proceedings, in courts of justice." 

Mr. Thomas Jefferson laid down the following prin- 
ciples as a guide for the interpretation of Constitu- 
tional provisions, "On every question of construction 
we should carry ourselves back to the time when the 
Constitution was adopted ; recollect the spirit mani- 
fested in the debates; and instead of trying what 
meaning may be squeezed out of the text, and invented 
against it, conform to the probable use in which it 
was passed." 

Daniel Webster in his famous argument in the 
Dartmouth College Case laid down the following prin- 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 71 

ciple of law: "To justify the taking away of vested 
rights there must be a forfeiture, to adjudge upon 
and declare which is the proper province of the judi- 
ciary. Attainder and confiscation are acts of sov- 
ereign power, not acts of legislation." 

The Courts have decided that "a patent is conclu- 
sive against all whose rights commence subsequent to 
its date" and that "a patent to land is the highest evi- 
dence of title and is conclusive as against the Gov- 
ernment and all claiming under junior patents or title, 
until set aside or annulled, unless it is absolutely void 
on its face." 

Where a Crown Grant has been made for *'all of 
the vacant and unpatented lands" in a properly de- 
scribed County, the legal bounds of which had been 
previously defined and established, or where such a 
Crown Grant has been made for "all of the vacant and 
unpatented lands" on an Island, the bounds of which 
are clearly set and fixed by nature itself, such a de- 
scription cannot be held to be vague and uncertain. 

H the said County or Island was at such time com- 
posed entirely of Crown lands, such a description 
would be sufficient to convey all of the said lands in 
the said County or on the said Island. If, however, 
Grants of a fractional part of said County or Island 
had been previously made by the Crown, then a final 
Crown Grant, covering "all of the vacant and unpat- 
ented lands" embraced therein, would be subject only 
to such previous grants as had been duly and properly 
issued by the Crown, recorded on the public records 
as provided by law and not forfeited or abandoned by 
the Grantees. 



THE PUBLISHER'S STATEMENT 

regarding 

The Author, 

S. L. MERSHON. 

The American Title and Trust Company has re- 
served this space for a Publisher's Statement which 
the Trust Company realizes will be of public interest 
especially on Staten Island. 

The property rights and interests descending from 
the Lancaster Symes Staten Island Land Grant have 
been purchased by the American Title and Trust Com- 
pany. These are far more extensive than the casual 
observer would presume could exist at the present 
time under one ownership on Staten Island. It is 
therefore of very great importance that the public 
should realize and fully understand who it is that is 
to direct the Trust Company's general policy in ad- 
ministering this vast estate and also the character and 
qualifications of the one called upon to bear such 
a responsibility. 

The American Title and Trust Company, which 
was incorporated in nineteen hundred and nine, under 
the laws of the State of Delaware, has its principal 
office in the Dupont Building, in the City of Wilming- 
ton, State of Delaware. It possesses an exceedingly 
broad charter but has limited its operations almost en- 
tirely to a strictly Trust business. This polic}^ has been 
successfully pursued under the advice of Mr. S. L. 

72 




S. L. MERSIION. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN y^ 

Mershon, who was elected its President at the time of 
its organization and still occupies that position. Mr. 
Mershon had been for many years prior to the incor- 
poration of the Trust Company, identified with other 
organizations and interests in which the present own- 
ers of the stock of the Trust Company were deeply 
interested. In fact, Mr. Mershon has been intimately 
known to all of the officers and directors of the Trust 
Company, with one exception, for a period of over 
twenty-five (25) years. 

His home, social, religious, commercial and financial 
life and relations have been at all times during that 
period "a wide-open book" to the directors and offi- 
cers now associated with him. The unqualified and 
unanimous endorsement of Mr. Mershon's plans and 
methods by the stockholders, directors and officers of 
the Trust Company, is in itself a sufficient recogni- 
tion of the supreme confidence reposed in him by the 
corporation of which he is the executive head. 

It has been deemed proper, however, because of the 
new, large and important interests recently acquired by 
the Trust Company on Staten Island and the wide- 
spread public interest therein, that the public should be 
specially advised as to the Trust Company's expe- 
rience with Mr. Mershon. It should also be made ac- 
quainted with his standing among those with whom 
he has done business in the past and his endorsement 
by that large circle with whom he has had close and 
important financial transactions and social relations. 

The American Title and Trust Company well un- 
derstands that Mr. Mershon will receive the unquali- 
fied confidence and good will of the public at large on 
Staten Island when it becomes acquainted with him 
and understands the motives and principles that in- 



74 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

spire him. The Trust Company therefore submitted 
to the Pubhsher the following voluntary, widespread 
and emphatic letters of appreciation of Mr. Mershon 
which have come to the Company from men who rep- 
resent large interests and stand for great principles 
in industrial, commercial and financial circles. 

The Publisher of this work, by special appointment 
of the Trust Company, presents herewith extracts 
from its promiscuous and voluminous correspondence 
that entitle its President to the fullest confidence and 
consideration on the part of the public at large. The 
following are taken from recent original autograph 
letters now in the custody of the Trust Company, 
which letters cover Mr. Mershon's personal record, 
without a single break, for over thirty (30) years. 

ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT METAL- 
LURGISTS AND CHEMISTS IN AMERICA, 
whose integrity and standing are unimpeachable and 
whose opinions are authoritative in Banking circles, 
referring to Mr. Mershon and some exceedingly large 
undertakings which he had directed and guided, not 
only says, 

*'all of which have been proven to be of large 
commercial value and successfully operated/' but 
adds, ''Mr. Mershon bears unqualified endorse- 
ments of the parties associated with him in such 
enterprises." 

AN UPSTATE BANKER writes, 

'■'/ have been in extensive and various negotia- 
tions and transactions with Mr. Mershon. I know 
that it is his purpose that his arrangements shoidd 
always be just to all parties concerned." 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 75 

THE CASHIER OF THE LARGEST EXPORT 
COMPANY of its kind in the United States writes, 

"For a number of years I was the head ace it ri- 
ant and office manager in Mr. Mershon's office. 
During that period my position was a confidential 
one and his transactions covering the handling of 
large sums of money, much of which zvere trust 
funds, were known to me. In all the years I was 
with him I never knew him to make an unjust 
charge on his books nor an unfair contract. He 
was at all times, frank, candid, just and truthful, 
in all his dealings. I never knew him to wrong 
anyone and his accounting of trust funds was al- 
ways made fidly, frankly and accurately. I con- 
sider Mr. Mershon a man of absolute integrity, 
his associates have always been of the best social 
and moral standing. To have been connected 
zvith him as I was at that time I regard as both 
a privilege and a pleasure." 

A REAL ESTATE INVESTOR records the fol- 
lowing, 

"I have known Mr. Mershon very intimately for 
many years and know his home life, the people 
with whom he is very closely related and the 
high esteem in which he is held in the community 
in which he lives. Mr. Mershon is a man of good 
conscience, loyal to the interests entrusted to him 
and true to his sense of right." 

THE FOLLOWING is an excerpt from a letter 
written to Mr. Mershon FROM ONE OF THE 
MOST HIGHLY ESTEEMED EX-TREASUR- 
ERS of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



7(> THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

He was Treasurer under three Presidential Adminis- 
trations. 

"Yo% deserve to have your undertakings suc- 
cessful." 

THE FOLLOWING is from a letter written by 
A COLLEGE PRESIDENT, whose name and repu- 
tation is national. 

"My dear Friend Mershon. It would be a great 
pleasure to be associated with you in business. 
I do not forget how delightful was the associa- 
tion with you in religious work. I wish you 
every success in every righteous cause to which 
you devote your fine powers." (Intimate, 
friendly, personal relations have existed between 
this College President and Mr. Mershon for thirty 
years. ) 

A COLLEGE EX-PRESIDENT of wide standing, 
in writing to Mr. Mershon, states, 

"I congratulate you on the progress being made 
in your brave tight for financial righteousness and 
independence." 

A RETIRED CAPITALIST of large wealth and 
for whom Mr. Mershon has handled during the past 
fifteen years hundreds of thousands of dollars of 
Trust funds, recently stated in a letter now before us, 

"/ woidd not hesitate to place my own proxy in 
Mr. Mershon's control or otherwise have him 
represent me, believing that he would at all times 
subordinate any private interests to the interests 
of the corporation as a whole. In his transact 
tions with me during these years he has shown 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN ^j 

-fidelity to trust, loyalty to the interests entrusted 
to him and the exercise of the ability required. 
He is a man of integrity, his habits are good and 
his personal expenditures reasonable. I have al- 
ways found Mr. Mershon loyal to what he be- 
lieves to be right and fearless and determined in 
the support of same. Mr. Mershon has not fallen 
below the standards he has set for himself." 

A MEMBER OE THE EXECUTIVE FORCE 
of one of the largest electrical companies in the United 
States, in writing of Mr. Mershon states, 

"I know him very intimately. I unqualifiedly 
recommend him." 

THE CAPITALIST of one of the largest IM- 
PORTING HOUSES in the South writes to Mr. 
Mershon, 

^^Be assured that if I can be of any service to you 
in any way down here I will gladly do it." 

A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS FOR A LONG 

TIME an occupant of one of the suite of offices occu- 
pied by Mr. Mershon writes, 

"^7 was in constant contact with the clients who 
visited him and zvith zvhom he did business. I 
have known Mr. Mershon intimately for a long 
time. In all of my acquaintance zvith him in the 
office, his integrity and fair dealings were beyond 
reproach. He has my implicit confidence and he 
will not be untrue to any confidence reposed in 
him." 



78 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

A BANKER who is a member of one of the promi- 
nent Banking houses of New York City states, 

"I have known Mr. Mershon as a friend and 
neighbor for the past fifteen years and have al- 
ways held him in the highest esteem. It is a 
pleasure to commend him." 

THE PRINCIPAL OF A NEW YORK CITY 
HIGH SCHOOL states, 

''Mr. S. L. Mershon has my fidlest confidence 
as to his ability, energy and integrity. I have 
known him and his family for many years and 
esteem them highly." 

A MECHANICAL, MINING AND CIVIL EN- 
GINEER, a member in high standing of one of the 
two most prominent engineering associations in Great 
Britain, writes, 

"I have had very extensive relations with Mr. 
Mershon for many years covering various busi- 
ness enterprises. I know Mr. Mershon very in- 
timately and esteem him very highly as a man of 
high character, trnthfidness and ability. It is 
a very great pleasure to state this. I have never 
known him by word or deed to do anything in- 
consistent with high integrity and most unexcep- 
tionable conduct." 

A MEMBER OF THE STAFF of a periodical 
magazine pubhshed in New York City writes, 

"I have personally known Mr. Mershon inti- 
mately for about twenty years. He has conferred 
with me on a great many occasions and has con- 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 79 

Udentially gone over his affairs zuith me several 
times very fully, to the extent of submitting his 
documents and correspondence to me so that in 
the event of his death I woidd be fidly advised 
as to the status of business in his office and coidd 
see that every interest he represented zvas prop- 
erly taken care of. Mr. Mershon has always 
been open, and frank with me to the very ex- 
treme. I have had free access in a confidential 
capacity to his Hies, both letters and contracts. 
I know his family connections and also his so- 
cial environment. I do not hesitate to say that 
I consider Mr. Mershon a frank, truthful and 
positively reliable man, worthy of all confidence 
as to ability and integrity." 

A VERY PROMINENT MEMBER OF THE 
PENNSYLVANIA BAR writes, 

*'It has been my privilege to be in close relations 
with Mr. Mershon covering an extended period 
of time. On all occasions I have ever found 
him to be frank, truthfid and sincere. He is a 

MAN WHO HATES FRAUD, SCORNS GRAFT AND BE- 
LIEVES IN A SQUARE DEAL FOR EVERYBODY." 

ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT CLERGY- 
MEN in the State of New York says over his signa- 
ture, 

"I have known Mr. Stephen L. Mershon from 
his boyhood. I have watched his business career 
with interest. Energetic, fearless, wise and so 
honorable that he zuould rather lose a fortune than 
do a dishonest thing. With all his experience he 
is a most desirable man to deal with." 



8o THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

A BANK DIRECTOR and A HEAVY MANU- 
FACTURER IN NEW JERSEY, referring to both 
his and Mr. Mershon's former identification with a 
large manufacturing industry, remarks, 

"Mr. Mershon had the highest confidence of the 
Firm until he voluntarily severed his connections 
with them. He subsequently went into competi- 
tion with them, they, however, entertaining to- 
ward him a warm personal friendship up to the 
time of their decease. Mr. Mershon had a flaw- 
less record with that house." 

A MEMBER OF A VERY PROMINENT MAN- 
UFACTURING COMPANY in New York City 
places In correspondence the following, 

"I am very glad of the opportunity to say a word 
to show my high esteem for my friend and next 
door neighbor, Mr. Stephen L. Mershon. I have 
known Mr. Mershon for a period of sixteen years 
more or less intimately and have always found 
him to be a perfect gentleman, highly educated 
and cidtured. He is a clever writer, being the 
author of more than one book. He is a man of 
?narked religious tendencies, being a leading mem- 
ber of a local Church. No one could have proved 
a more genial neighbor than Mr. Mershon to me. 
I am glad to wish him all the success that is due 
him." 

THE PRESIDENT OF A VERY POWERFUL 
NATIONAL BANK IN NEW YORK CITY, in 
writing to Mr. Mershon, expressed himself as fol- 
lows, 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 8i 

"I congratulate you on the high esteem in which 
you are held by those who have had financial 
dealings with you aiid it must be a source of very 
great gratification to you, notwithstanding what 
may be said to the contrary, that you have let- 
ters which prove beyond any question the high 
character of all of your financial dealings." 

THE CASHIER OE A PROMINENT NA- 
TIONAL BANK IN PENNSYLVANIA wrote Mr. 
Mershon as follows ; 

''I would feel safe in entering into any enter- 
prise when your name stands at its head. I 
wish you unbounded success which I feel sure 
will crown your efforts." 

THE PRESIDENT OF A POWERFUL NA- 
TIONAL BANK IN THE SOUTHWEST writes, 

"I have known Mr. Mershon to be at all times a 
high-minded man of unimpeachable integrity and 
purpose of life." 

THE SECRETARY of a representative Trust 
Company, in writing of his former financial con- 
nections in the East, says that, 

"Among my most pleasant recollections is my 
acquaintanceship at that time with Mr. Mershon 
who was identified with the same interests." 

A BUSINESS FIRM, in speaking of the American 
Title and Trust Company's prompt and decisive inter- 
vention in their behalf, under Mr. Mershon's direc- 
tion, in saving that Firm from overwhelming disaster, 
refers to the 



82 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

prompt and efficient intervention/' and the "elim- 
ination of serious complications" and the putting 
of their matters in "sound business condition." 
The Firm further states that they "have been 
more than satisfied with the methods of doing 
business and zvith the unvarying adherence to 
agreements, both verbal and written, entered into 
by Mr. Mershon for the Trust Company." 

A MEMBER OF ONE OF THE MOST POW- 
ERFUL BANKING HOUSES ON WALL 
STREET refers to Mr. Mershon as, 

"My near neighbor for sixteen years; a gentle- 
man of character and business integrity." 

A GENTLEMAN PROMINENTLY IDENTI- 
FIED WITH ONE OF THE OLDEST AND 
WEALTHIEST BANKS IN NEW YORK CITY 
referring to Mr. Mershon, with whom he has been ac- 
quainted for over fifteen years, declares that, 

"/ can testify that Mr. Mershon bears the char- 
acter of a good citizen of the town." 



The foregoing commendatory letters are very re- 
cent, and, as previously stated, cover without a break 
Mr. Mershon's business career for thirty consecutive 
years and down to the date of the publication of this 
narrative. They are the frank statements of repre- 
sentatives of the highest social, commercial, and finan- 
cial circles. 

It is sufficient to add that the plans, purposes and 
policy of the American Title and Trust Company, in 
relation to its Staten Island interests as represented 
by Mr. Mershon. will be in accord with the highest 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 83 

standards of commercial ethics and conducted in a 
manner that will meet the approval of those who be- 
lieve in the application of old fashioned principles to 
modern problems. 

THE PUBLISHER. 



BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 
(Abridged) 

OF 

MAJOR LANCASTER SYMES 

IN 

AMERICA. 

1690. Lancaster Symes arrives in New York on ship 
"Beaver." 

1691. Symes and others demand the surrender of the New 
York Fort. 

1692-3. Symes stationed with troops in Albany. 

1692. Symes goes to the relief of Major Peter Schuyler, in 
a campaign against the French and the Indians. 

1693. Symes returns to New York and is sent to Suffolk 
County to enlist its quota of troops. 

1693. Symes is dispatched to England to recruit soldiers 
for Grenadier Guards stationed at New York and 
Albany. 

1694. Symes marries Catherine De Haart in the New York 
Dutch Church. 

1697. "The Parish of Trinity Church'' incorporated and 
granted the partially completed Church and burying 
ground around it. 

1698. Dongan's mortgage on "Whitehall" surrendered by 
Symes in exchange for a fourteen year lease of same 
at a rental of one pepper corn a year. 

1698. Symes is relieved of command as lieutenant because 
of change of political party control of administration 
in the Province. 

1699. Symes buys negro boy of Captain Kidd. 
Symes elected vestryman of Trinity Church. 

1701. Symes is awarded the freedom of the City of New 

York. 
1701. Symes, military commissioner at a conference with 

the Six Nations at Albany. 

84 







J. 




IN MEMORY OF 


1 




THOMAS DONCAN 


— 




BORN 1634 DIED 171S 


i 




EARL OF LIMERICK, GENERAL IN THE 


1 




ARMIES OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE, 


i 




IRISH PATRIOT AND DEVOTED CATHOLIC. 


= 




GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK 1683-1688 


i 


FATHER OF THE F(nST REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY 




AND "THE CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND PRIVILICES" 


= 




GRANTING POPULAR GOVERNMENT, RELIGIOUS TOLERATION, 


^ 




TRIAL BY JURY, IMMUNITY FROM MARTIAL LAW. 


= 




FREEDOM FROM ARBITRARY ARREST. 


= 




FRAMER OF THE FIRST CITY CHARTERS FOR 


= 




ALBANY AND NEW YORK. 


= 




FOUNDER OF LATIN SCHOOL UNDER CATHOLIC 


^ 




AUSPICES AND TEACHERS. 


1 


THIS TABLET 




ERECTED BY THE COLUMBIAN ASSEMBLY 


= 




FOURTH DECREE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS 


= 




OCT. 8th, 1911 


^ 


...lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllllllllllllllll^^ 


§ 



Tablet on St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, New York City. 

St. Peter's Church is located on land originally granted by Queen Anne to 
Trinity Church. " 

St. Peter's Church owns the site on which the church stands, but it pays 
rental to Trinity Church for the land on which its church house is erected. 

This house lot has not changed ownership since the day on which the Grant 
was made by Queen Anne. 

Dongan Hills on Staten Island were named in honor of Governor Dongan. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 85 

1702, Symes with Robert Walters, Cornelius De Peyster, 
Caleb Heathcote, Mathew Clarkson and others ob- 
tain a grant of land in Westchester County (West 
patent of North Castle). 

1702. Symes returns to Albany in the suite of Edward 
Hyde, the newly appointed Governor and who later 
became the Earl of Clarendon. 

1702. Queen Anne ascends the throne of England. 

1703. Queen Anne Approves of Bellamont's plan to provide 
missionaries for the American Indians, and refers it 
to the Archbishop of Canterbury for execution. 

1703. Symes becomes one of the grantees in the Minisinck 
Patent to lands in Orange County. 

1704. Reverend John Vesey's report of state of religion on 
Staten Island made to the Society for the Propaga- 
tion of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. 

1704. First Preacher is sent to Staten Island. 

1704. Symes becomes Public Appraiser for New York. 

1704. Symes leaves vestry of Trinity Church. 

1705. Symes again becomes vestryman of Trinity Church. 
1705. Royal Grant of the "Queen's Farm" on Manhattan 

Island is made by Queen Anne to Trinity Church. 

1705. Symes obtains a contract to furnish fire wood to 
the garrison at Fort Anne. 

1706. Symes is commissioned to audit the accounts of H. 
M. S. Triton's Prize. 

1707. Symes secures a grant of land in the town of Mon- 
roe, Orange County, N. Y. 

1707. Symes supplies fire wood under long term contract, to 
the Fort of New York. 

1708. Edward Hyde removed from office of Governor of 
New York but is detained in the City by his creditors 
until Symes pays Hyde's entire indebtedness. 

1708. Symes secures a grant of land in Clarkson near Hav- 

erstraw, New York. 
1708. The parish of St. Andrew's is founded on Staten 

Island. 
1708. Symes receives from Queen Anne a Grant of all of 

the Crown lands on Staten Island. 
1708. Symes records at Richmond, Staten Island, his deed 



86 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

from Queen Anne for all Crown lands on Staten 
Island. 

1709. Symes is commissioned to take account of the provi- 
sions on board the several vessels in the harbor of 
New York. 

1709. Symes is commissioned Ranger of Orange County. 

1709. St. Andrew's Church on Staten Island, Construc- 
tion commenced. 

171 1. Symes grants land to St. Andrew's Church Corpora- 
tion for a Church on Staten Island. 
("133 acres for a Church of England.") ("26 acres" 
for glebe lands.) 

This deed was delivered to St. Andrew's Church 
Corporation on the date and at the time of its issue 
but was not recorded by it until 1718. 

171 1. Tillyer, William, (and wife) gave to St. Andrew's 
Church "for a Church and graveyard" about half an 
acre of land. (This was given after Symes' gift of 
159 acres.) 

171 1. Symes sends lumber for a military expedition against 
Canada. 

171 1. Symes contributes toward the completion of the 
Steeple of Trinity Church. 

1712. Council orders that the Patent to Lancaster Symes 
be investigated. 

1712. Queen Anne provides a mission among the Mohawk 
Indians and contributes a Silver Service and other 
gifts for their use. 

1 713. Queen Anne grants to St. Andrew's Parish her per- 
petual Royal Charter. 

1713. St. Andrew's Church "formally presented to the Par- 
ish by Queen Anne as head of the realm and Church." 

1 713. Lancaster Symes petitions Council for a confirmation 
of title to a lot of land on Dock Street, New York 
City, purchased by him from Ebenezer Willson and 
Benjamin Ashe. The petition was granted. 

1713. A confirmatory patent is granted to Symes by the 
Council after investigation ordered in 1712. 

1714. Death of Queen Anne. 

1714. King George gives Patent to St. Peter's Protestant 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 87 

Episcopal Church, Albany, N. Y. He seals it with 
Queen Anne's seal and adorns it with her vignette. 

1715. St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church at Albany 
built. 

1716. St. Peter's Church, the first English Church in Al- 
bany, is opened for worship. 

1723. Symes is made Captain of the Fusileers stationed at 

Albany. 
1723. Symes goes to England to receive commission of 

Captain of Fusileers and returns the same year. 

1723. Symes resides in New York City, upon his return 
from England. 

1724. Symes resides in New York City. 

1725. A Petition is sent by Captain Henry Holland and 
Major Symes (wardens of St. Peter's Church at Al- 
bany) to the Society for the Propagation of Religion 
in Foreign Parts, requesting that a minister be sent 
to St. Peter's Church. 

1726. Symes represents Orange County in the Assembly at 
Albany (continues to represent that County until his 
death in 1729). 

1727. Symes collects funds for St. Peter's Church expenses. 
1729. Lancaster Symes, Jr., marries Margaret Lydius, a 

daughter of Reverend Johannes Lydius of Albany. 
1729. Death of Major Symes in Albany. 



STATEN ISLAND LITERATURE. 

The Colonial History of Staten Island is replete 
with incidents of intense, thrilling and unique inter- 
est. Constituting as it now does one of the boroughs 
of the city of New York and within easy access from 
the heart of the metropolis, Staten Island should and 
would become an established route for a greatly in- 
creased tide of tourists were the knowledge of its 
charms both historic and scenic more widely dissemi- 
nated. 

The author of this book, moved by his quickened 
interest in the history of Staten Island, caused by his 
investigation into the life, times and circumstances of 
Major Lancaster Symes, desires to call special atten- 
tion to the following interesting and instructive lit- 
erature now available for purchase or accessible in the 
public libraries of the various boroughs of the city 
of New York. 

An acquaintance with the literature referred to will 
open up a field of intense interest, to all who are im- 
bued to any degree with the spirit of our forefathers. 

The author also specially recommends that when 
possible, persons who are interested in Staten Island 
and its history should visit the exceedingly interesting 
Museum In New Brighton (St. George's), Staten 
Island, maintained by the Staten Island As- 
sociation of Arts and Sciences. The Historical, Geo- 
logical, Botanical, and other exhibits there col- 
lected and relating to Staten Island and open to 
the inspection of the public, will richly repay a visit 

88 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 89 

thereto. The bulletins heretofore issued by as well 
as those continually issuing from that Association and 
containing an account of the proceedings of the Staten 
Island Association of Arts and Sciences will be found 
very interesting reading. They will prove a valuable 
and important addition to the library of any scholar 
who is interested, as all American scholars should be, 
in the remarkable history and unique characteristics 
of this exceptional borough in the City of New York. 
The pleasure and benefits derived from a tour of 
Staten Island will be many times enhanced by the 
constant use of the "Historical Guide to the City of 
New York" issued by the City History Club of New 
York City. Staten Island is referred to therein as 
"Historic Richmond" as it constitutes the entire 
County of Richmond, 



BIBLIOGRAPHY OF STATEN ISLAND. 

Staten Island and Staten Islanders. Richmond Bor- 
ough Association of Women Teachers. The Grafton Press, 
New York. 

Colonel Francis Lovelace, and His Plantation on 
Staten Island. Edward C. Delavan, Jr. National Sciences 
Association of Staten Island (now Staten Island Associa- 
tion of Arts and Sciences, New Brighton, N. Y.). 

Morris's Memorial History of Staten Island. Ira K. 
Morris. By the author. West Brighton, Staten Island, New 
York City. 

History of Richmond County, Staten Island, from Its 
Discovery to the Present Time (1887). Richard M. Bay- 
les. Preston & Co. (1887), New York City. 

Annals of Staten Island. J. H. Clute. Press of Chas. 
Vogt (1887), 114 Fulton St., New York City. 

Staten Island Names, Ye Olde Names and Nicknames 
(and Snpp.). William T. Davis. Natural Science Associa- 
tion of Staten Island, New Brighton, N. Y. (1896), (now 
Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences). 

The History and Legends of Howard Avenue and Ser- 
pentine Road, Grymes Hill, Staten Island. C. G. Hine. 

Historical Guide of the City of New York. City His- 
tory Club, 105 West 40th St., New York City. Frederick 
A. Stokes Company, New York City. 



90 






w^- 

%. 







liii. *?!! 




Built about 1668 by Christopher Billopp, who established the claim of New 
York to Staten Island by sailing around the Island in less than 24 hours. 

He was rewarded by a Grant of 1163 acres of land. 

His Grandson was a loyalist in 1776 and was thrice captured and imprisoned. 
At the close of the Revolution he went to live in Nova Scotia. 

This house was the scene of the only authorized peace conference, held in 
America during the Revolutionary War, between representatives of Great Britain 
and the American Congress. 



S. L. Mershon, President. Randolph R. Beam, 

Walter M. Brokaw, Secretary. Assistant Secretary 

Henry D. Ames, Treasurer. & Assistant Treas. 

THE 
AMERICAN TITLE AND TRUST COMPANY 

(A Delaware Corporation) 

of the 

Dupont Building 

in the city of 

Wilmington, Delaware, U. S. A. 

IS 

Under the supervision of 

THE INSURANCE AND BANKING DEPARTMENT 

of the 

State of Delaware 

with an authorized 

CAPITAL of $3,000,000 

It Does Not — accept deposits or do a banking business; 

It Does Not — Underwrite; 

It Does Not — Guarantee; 

It Does Not — Speculate; 

It Does Not — Owe any indebtedness. 

BUT 

It Does — Act as a Trustee; 

It Does — Act as an Agent ; 

It Does — Hold and own large and valuable assets; 

It Does — Make bona fide investments ; 

It Does — Faithfully conserve the true interests of its clients. 

91 



92 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

The Only Non-speculating, debtless operating Trust Com- 
pany in the United States as far as it has been able to dis- 
cover. 

It Has Never — Sold a bond that has defaulted the pay- 
ment of its coupons. 

It Has Never — Made a loan where the interest has not 
been promptly met or the principal paid at 
maturity. 

It Has Never — Sold a security that has declined in value 
to an ultimate financial loss to its customer. 

IN ORDER TO EMPHASIZE 
THE STATEMENT THAT 

NO CUSTOMER of the American Title and Trust Com- 
pany has ever been led by it into A Financial loss through 
an Unfortunate Investment, the 

AMERICAN TITLE AND TRUST COMPANY OFFERS 
To Redeem in Cash at par and with Interest, upon de- 
mand at any time within sixty days (60) from April ist, 
1915, ANY AND EVERY BOND, MORTGAGE or 
NOTE sold or negotiated by it with any of its customers 
from the date of its incorporation, upon which obligation 
there has been a sixty (60) day default in the payment of 
interest or a like default in the payment of the principal. 

THE AMERICAN TITLE AND TRUST COMPANY fur- 
ther OFFERS to REDEEM upon DEMAND ANY and 
EVERY NOTE, UNDERWRITING or other actual in- 
debtedness now outstanding to which it is a party and 
obligated for the payment thereof, excepting only the pay- 
ment of Trust funds not due under the terms of Trust. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 93 

The motto adopted by the 

AMERICAN TITLE AND TRUST COMPANY 

and for which it 

UNFLINCHINGLY STANDS 

IS 

"Integrity of Purpose, Fidelity to Trust 
and Equity in Practice." 

AND 

EVERY OFFICER AND DIRECTOR IS UNRESERVEDLY LOYAL 

to that 

ONE AND ONLY TRUE STANDARD OF COMMERCIAL ETHICS 
WORTHY OF A CORPORATION SUBSCRIBING 

as 
A Trust Company. 

AMERICAN TITLE AND TRUST COMPANY, 

By S. L. Mershon, 

President. 
Attest : 

Randolph R. Beam, 
Assistant Secretary. 



INDEX. 

(A) 

American Title & Trust Company. Proof of 

claim to the Lancaster Symes grant lo, 56 

Assertion. English right to territory 45, 46, 47 

(B) 
"Bad-woods," or "Monochong." First Dutch 

name for Staten Island 9 

Bellamont. Earl of, Advent of Leislerian party 

under 3I) 32 

Bibliography 90 

(C) 
Cabot, John. Discovery of North America by. 4, 6 
English claim of sovereignty based on discov- 
ery 4, 6 

Charles 2nd. Grant to the Duke of York 10 

His declaration of v^ar against Holland 13 

His treaty of peace and Holland's recognition 

of English sovereignty 13 

Coleman, John. Tragic death and naming of 

Coleman's Point 7 

Columbus. Discovery of America by 4 

Crown Grants. (See Queen Anne, Charles 2nd, 
and Grants.) 10, 65 

(D) 

Deed. Indian, to English Crowrn Ii 

Lancaster Symes', to St. Andrew's Church... 42 
William Tillyer and his wife to St. Andrew's 

Church 45 

De Fries. Patent to, from West India Company. 9 

Peace re-established by 8 

Failure to keep contract with West India Com- 
pany 10 

94 






1776 r- 

IN MEMORY OF THE PATRIOTS 

WHO UNDER GENERAL HUGH MERCER 

CROSSING FROM PERTH AMBOY 

SURPRISED AND. OVERCAME THE ENEMY 

ON THIS SPOT ON OCTOBER 16 1776 

TAKING TWENTY PRISONERS 

BESIDES ARMS AND AMMUNITION 

TWO OF THE AMERICANS WERE KILLED AND> 

cot. GRIFFIN AND LIEUT COL SMITH 

WOUNDED IN THIS ACTION. 

THIS TABLET is~PLACED BY THE 
RICHMOND COUNTY CHAPTER 
^ DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 

1913 



This Tablet is on The Outer W.^ll of St. Andrew's Church at Rich- 
mond, S. I. 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 95 

Dutch. Occupation by Dutch under Patroon 

System 7 

Assertion of claim by Anneke Jans 26 

(E) 
Endowment. Queen Anne's, to Trinity Church.. 27 

(F) 
Founding. St. Andrew's Church 41 

(G) 

Grants. (Royal.) Trinity Church 27 

St. Andrew's Church (Alleged) 42, 43 

Symes, Staten Island 23, 27, 41 

(H) 
Hudson. Discovery of the Hudson River by.... 6 

(I) 

Indians. Fur trading with Hudson by 6 

Fur trading by settlers with 7 

Influence of liquor upon 8 

Banding together of 5 tribes against the Dutch 8 

Destruction of Oude Dorp by 8 

Sale of Staten Island to English Crown by 12 

Ceremony, upon delivery of possession by In- 
dians 12 

Possession given to English by 12 

Attitude towards English regarding purchase 

of land 15 

Vigorous protest against the trespassing by the 

Dutch 17 

(J) 
Jans, Anneke. Assertion of claim by 26 

(K) 
Kieft, Governor. Establishment of distillery.... 7 



96 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

(L) 

Law. Propositions of law relating to land grants 65 

Leislerian Party. Advent to power of 3i> 32 

Trinity Church openly anti-Leisler 31 

Symes relieved of office of Lieutenant by Leis- 
lerian party 32 

(M) 

Mershon, S. L. Endorsement of by representa- 
tive Americans ^2 

"Monochong," or "Bad-Woods." First Dutch 

name for Staten Island 9 

(O) 
Ogilvy, Reverend John. Marries Catherine 

Symes (Lancaster Symes' granddaughter).. 51 

Assistant minister of Trinity Church 51 

Onde Dorp. Foundation of 7 

Massacre of inhabitants of 8 

2nd destruction of 8 

3rd destruction of 9 

(P) 
Patents. From West India Company to De Vries. 9 

Patroon. System, Dutch 9 

Posting of notice. Of Symes Survey on Church 

door 62 

Purchases. Of land from Indians I5> ^7 

Indefinite and unsatisfactory, by the Dutch 

from the Indians 15 

(Q) 

Queen Anne. Owner in fee of all Staten Island 

lands 23 

Reign of (Frontispiece). 

Erection of Churches during reign 28, 29 

Abdicates all rights on Staten Island to Lan- 
caster Symes 25 

Grants of valuable lands to Trinity Church 26 



THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 97 

Enthusiastic supporter of Church 26, 27 

Genuineness of grant to Symes 27 

Royal Charter to St. Andrew's Church 41 

Quit Rents. Paid by Symes 41 

(R) 

Record. Deed from Symes to St. Andrew's 
Church, Executed and delivered 171 1, Recorded 

in 1718 42 

(S) 
Staten Island. First name, "Monochong" or 

"Bad-woods" 9 

First Territory seized by English when enforc- 
ing their claim lo 

Purchase of by English government from the 

Indians lO 

Bibliography 90 

States General of Holland. Insistence that West 
India Co. should purchase lands from Indian 

owners 10 

Demand that Holland's and England's posses- 
sions be adjusted 13 

St. Andrew's Church. Symes deed to 42 

Charter to 41 

Deed from Wm. Tillyer & wife to 45 

Descriptions of 43 

Founding of parish 41 

Posting of notice on Church door 62 

Erection of (see tablet) 40, 42 

Gift by Queen Anne of Communion Service, 

Bell, etc 42 

Symes, Lancaster. Arrival in New York 1690. . . 30 

Family history 23 to 26 

Commands Expedition for relief of Major 

Schuyler 30, 31 

"Beloved Subject of Queen Anne" 40, 41 

Grant by Queen Anne of Staten Island lands. . 2^, 27, 41 
Confirmation of Symes title by State of New 

York 26 



98 THE MAJOR AND THE QUEEN 

Description of grant on Staten Island 52 to 54 

Rights to land under water 65, 68, 69 

Warrant of survey by Colonial Government... 62 

Administrator of various estates 35 

Executor of v^^ills 35 

Public Appraiser of Newr York 35 

Takes Formal possession of property on Staten 

Island 62 

Legal possession of land on Staten Island.... 62 

Biographical Record (Abridged) 84 

Large landowner 64 

Maintenance of Symes title 50 

Opposes Leislerian party 31 

Petition of 31 

Vestryman of Trinity Church 32 

A Representative Churchman 31 

Purchase of negro boy from Capt. Kidd 31 

Various grants to 32 

Gift to St. Andrew's Church 43, 44 

Gift of Glebe lands 42, 45, 46 

Makes formal conveyance of property to St. 

Andrew's Church 48 

Warden of St. Peter's Church, Albany 29, 40 

St. Peter's Church. Grant from King George I. 2y 

(T) 

Titles. English claim through Cabot 4, 6 

Certainty regarding Lancaster Symes grant... 53 

Trinity Church. Grant from Queen Anne 27 

Anneke Jans claim 26 

Endowment by Queen Anne 27 

Openly anti-Leislerian 3i> 32 

(V) 

Van Dyck. Shoots Indian Squaw. Peach War. . 8, 9 

(Y) 

Yo7'k, Duke of. Receives grant from Charles 2nd 10 

Asserts claims 10 

Changes name of New Netherlands to Province 

of New York 10 



A 



H 144 7 



.^ 


















,-?v" . 




"oV" 






•'o..-;J 






■^ ,^ -0.' 




■^^„..*^' :'&% '%.y /^■.\/' yMb:- 






.o C- 





o V 










^.^n^ 






f^f; 


\^ . 


o^ 






vl 


* /^ 


* <^^ 











.v^. 












^„ *- 



'1*°' V 










.-^^^ 






^* ^'^ ^ 










^^•n^ 



'^^ A^ ^\ 




